In America, 20th March marks Snowman Burning Day. When I read this I have to say it brought up all sorts of rather unsavoury pictures in my mind – things rather akin to the scene in The Snowman, when James and the Snowman go for on a ride on James’ dad’s motorbike and the heat of the engine makes the Snowman’s legs start to melt, which has to be rectified by a lie down in the garage freezer.
However, according to nationaltoday.org, this day, and the celebrations that accompany it in a number of states around the US, marks an end to cold winter days and welcomes the warmth of Spring. And for those of you of a nervous disposition, it isn’t “real” Snowmen that are burnt, but effigies of ones made of straw or recyclable paper - after all snow would be a bit difficult to burn!!
As we got up this morning and looked at the world around us, I am hoping, that our gardens are full of lovely Spring flowers and not knee deep in snow! Although of course you never know, statistically we are more likely to have a white Easter than a white Christmas – particularly when Easter falls early.
The range of beautiful spring flowers we can enjoy in our gardens, parks and hedgerows all around us is amazing. There are so many different types with a huge variety of colours, sizes and shapes. It does make you wonder at the creativity of God, who made each one!
Those Spring flowers herald a change to warmer weather and a reminder of the faithfulness of God that one season will follow the next, as we are promised in Genesis 8:22 “As long as the earth remains, there will be planting and harvest, cold and heat, summer and winter, day and night.”
May we never take the beauty of the world for granted or stop seeing and appreciating the wonder of nature all around us. We must remember to see the world with the same eyes that God does and show the same love and care that he does.
Perhaps as you look at the flowers you see as you take a walk today or drive out on your travels, or enjoy the view from your window, you might like to take a moment to thank God for the variety within nature that is there for us to enjoy, his faithfulness in the change of the seasons and all the marvels that are there all around us!
Catherine Booton
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