The Winters of Our Discontented Spring

Ahhh …. The joy of spring. You know what I’m talking about, right?

• The stuffy nose
• The sinus headaches (Every. Single. Day.)
• The sneezing
• The coughing (until you gag—which I’ve done since I was a child)
• The not sleeping at night because you can’t breathe

Spring … we wait all winter for spring to get here and then it makes us miserable. Unless, of course, you’re one of the fortunate who don’t suffer from allergies. 

But, let’s talk about Spring in the South, shall we? 

Spring in the South is a mixed bag of enjoyment. Set aside the dreadful allergies we’re forced to endure, our spring is chock-full of winters. In my neck of the woods, when June arrives and we’ve braved all our “springtime” winters, we just want to forget it and move right into summer. Of course, us Southerners are quite fickle and it doesn’t take long for us to start begging for fall.

“He changes times and seasons …”
~Daniel 2:21

March blows in our first Springtime Winter:
REDBUD WINTER

This lovely winter in March begins when the Redbud Trees bloom, displaying their lavish lavender-pink blossoms in full glory. DON’T BE DECEIVED by this painted beauty! Before this springtime winter is gone, we’ll have lived through several freezes. Keep an eye on the plants you put out in March, people.

Growing up in absolutely gorgeous Upper East Tennessee, Redbud trees are everywhere. Our family didn’t know the Redbud tree us kids loved to climb was on our property until lines were drawn to install fencing.

The neighbor whose father planted the Redbud would yell at us to stay out of “Papa’s tree”. When we discovered Papa’s tree had been planted on our property, we were old enough to be out of the tree climbing stage. However, the neighbor would lament to my mom about Papa’s tree, which, I can happily proclaim, is still standing—and deceiving us with a false hope of spring.

Legend tells us the Redbud tree is also called the “Judas tree” because of a belief that Judas Iscariot hanged himself from this tree after he betrayed Jesus. Which is why the original white blooms turned darker in color, from the shame and guilt.

Personally, I think those lovely blossoms are there to taunt us. Yep … more winter to come.

Next comes: DOGWOOD WINTER

As the exquisite blooms of the Dogwood continue to open and blossom—you guessed it—we’ll have several winters throughout April and maybe into early May during Dogwood Winter.

The legend of the Dogwood tells that wood from the Dogwood tree was used to make the cross for Christ’s crucifixion. After being used for such a cruel purpose, the tree was grieved and Jesus promised that the tree would never again be used for such agony. From that point on, its blossoms formed a cross—two long petals and two short petals. Each petal bears the print of the nails and in the center, a crown of thorns, so all who see it will remember.

“And when the centurion, who stood facing him, saw that in this way he breathed his last, he said, ‘Truly this man was the Son of God!’”
~Mark 15:39

And we can’t forget: LOCUST WINTER

As the Locust trees begin to bloom in early May, we’ll be blessed with a few more “cold snaps”—such a cute “southerny” way to refer to more freezing weather while awaiting release from the bleakness of winter. 

It is said that the Locust tree was named because of John the Baptist. We are told in the book of Matthew that “his meat was locusts and wild honey”. The tree got its name from the belief that the pods of the locust tree were actually carob pods.

And finally: BLACKBERRY WINTER

Well, Hallelujah! In mid to late May, Blackberry Winter is probably the most recognized of our springtime winters. It is, of course, marked when blackberry bushes are in full bloom. By this time, Southerners are exhausted with spring. We want the blooms to go away so we can breathe, but we’ll have a couple more of those lovely little cold snaps.

The thorny blackberry bush has a few legends. The first is the belief that the crown of thorns placed on Jesus’s head at his crucifixion was made from blackberry runners. The color of blackberries represent Christ’s shed blood.

The second legend of the blackberry is a tale that says when the Archangel Michael threw Lucifer from heaven, he landed in a bed of blackberry thorns. Thus, adding insult to injury.

Not enough punishment for the enemy of our souls, if you ask me.

Did you notice these “winters” come at the time of new birth in the life of these trees? When the promise of spring is in the air?

As the spring season has times of winter, we can also go through winters in the spring times of our lives. But just as spring gives way to summer, God will always pull us from the cold bitterness of our personal winters. When we come to Him, He carries us through these times and restores us to walk in His life-giving love. 

“My times are in your hand; rescue me from the hand of my enemies and from my persecutors!” 
~Psalm 31:15

Spring is a time we think of life. The bitter taste of winter fades and the beauty of newness awakens in us. We remember the sacrifice Jesus made on the cross at Calvary, and His resurrection that brings us this new life. 

“From the fig tree learn its lesson: as soon as its branch becomes tender and puts out its leaves, you know that summer is near.
~Matthew 24:32

These winters will soon pass. Even if you don’t live in the South, I’m sure you have springtime winters as well wherever you live. And of course, there are more “winters” we could talk about. I’ve only looked at a few.

But, summer will come, and us Southerners will be sitting on the front porch, sipping sweet tea just waiting for fall—and college football!