COLOR ME THANKFUL

By Marie Tschopp

Ecclesiastes 3:1 To every thing there is a season, and a time to every purpose under the heaven: (KJV)

Spring!  Warm and wonderful spring!  The season God awakens nature from its slumber and adorns trees with red, yellow, and gold attire.  What?  This sounds more like autumn?  Maybe so.  But did you know the rich colors of the leaves we see in the fall are present inside the leaves in the spring?  In the spring and summer months, days are long and sunlight is plentiful.  Chlorophyll is then produced, causing the leaves to remain green.   With autumn, daylight is shortened.  As nights become longer, darker, and colder, the color hidden inside each leaf shows through. 

Sort of like me. 

When life is good and sunny, it’s easy for me to praise the Lord and say, “God is Good!”  But in those seasons when the dark is long, well, it isn’t easy being green.  In difficult times, I’ve questioned the goodness of God and wondered if God really loved me.  And, in my anger, I’ve even given Him the silent treatment. 

When the ugly shades of fear and doubt show through, I’ve begun to remind myself of all the times in my life God has proven faithful.  I started writing my blessings down, for seeing the past helps me have confidence in the future.  While the tears flow, I drop to my knees and give thanks. 

Maybe someday I’ll be an evergreen.  I certainly hope so.  But, for now and forever, I’ll continue to count my blessings, root myself in His word and draw close to the Son.