Spring Cleaning

Spring has sprung!

And that means longer days, warmer temps, and more sunshine. Since I’m not a fan of cold weather, I am welcoming the sight of spring with open arms.

For many people, spring means the much dreaded task of spring cleaning. Not only dusting and vacuuming, but also cleaning and rearranging closets. Pulling out clothes you had forgotten you had and making stacks of what to keep and what to get rid of. 

“I hate to let that go, I might wear it sometime.”

“I don’t want to get rid of that. It’s a little snug, but I’ll get back to that weight at some point.”

When cleaning the closets, we are usually challenged as to what stays and what goes. The dilemma of what to hold on to and what to let go of.

Much like the calendar, our lives are made up of seasons. Maybe you’re in the middle of a transition in your life. Death of a loved one, divorce of a spouse, loss of a job, moving from one home to another. Whatever it is, as you begin to walk into your new season, you will face the challenge of deciding what stays and what goes, what to take with you and what to leave behind.

Comfort is often found in routine and convenience, but life is full of changes. How quickly things can change and you find yourself in a place that you haven’t planned for. Your comfort zone is nowhere to be found.

Spring cleaning may require some inconvenience. A new season is not always comfortable in the beginning. You may become annoyed at the awkwardness of your current season.

Be careful that you don’t cling so tightly to the memories that you can’t embrace the moments.

Too often, we cling to the past while God is inviting us to capture the present.

Just as you have clothes that are made specifically for the winter season, you don’t want to carry them into spring. Some of the things in your past season will not fit in your new season. And as tough as it sounds, some of the people from your past season will not find a place in your new season.

If you’re in a personal season of change, perhaps it’s time to do some cleaning. It may be time to let go of some old things and grab hold of some new opportunities. It may be time to let go of some relationships. Not all of your friends from your past season will understand your new season. But it’s okay!

Behold, I am doing a new thing; now it springs forth, do you not perceive it? I will make a way in the wilderness and rivers in the desert. Isaiah 43:19

As you enter this next season of your life, look for new life all around you, even in areas that were once deserted and dilapidated. God may be giving birth in areas that you thought were barren.

Embracing spring always means letting go of winter. But letting go is not always easy. Letting go is tough, you know.

As the trees turn green and the flowers begin to bloom, they display new life all around us. Life means change. And the only thing constant is change.

So go ahead. Do your cleaning. 

It’s a new day. It’s a new season.

Break the chains and embrace the change.

Still Believing!