It was the middle of February; a sunny warm day had been forecast, and would remain so for the rest of the week. It was ten in the morning, so I poured myself a cup of coffee, walked out to the rear of my home, strolled onto the deck and sat down facing the woods. I own about 3 acres of semi-cleared woods, with a Creek running along the back. It’s a great place to relax; to think; to write; or to invite friends.
Several squirrels were playing in the trees, as others were scurrying along the ground. I also noticed a few new buds had begun to push out on the various trees, and others from under a bed of decaying leaves. It was rather early in the season for buds to show themselves, for the cold March winds were closing in.
A bed of leaves remained all winter as a cover for the ground but were now beginning to dry out from the heat of the sun. A slight breeze made its way across the lawn, and the leaves seemed to dance before it. In the warmth of this early spring day it appeared the buds had decided to show their face, but for sure in the coming month they would retreat back under their bed of decaying leaves. But soon after, April showers would cause these buds to mature and bring forth leaves and flowers.
These buds will not come to full bloom until early May, as they play out their part in God’s marvelous creation. The bud life of plants and trees is short making me curious if God thought less of a bud than that of the leaves and flowers they yield. I suppose He has chosen not to hasten things, letting the smaller more delicate things gradually get accustomed to their ways; slowly and by degrees, but soon enough to gain strength and mature.
Patience is built into God’s creation, never pushing forward to quickly waiting until the season is right. Only then will the trees and plants wave their brilliant colors, emit fragrant odors, and put a smile on the face of all who pass by.
Seeing all this play out before me, I picked up a pencil and began to write. If buds must be buds just so long as it takes to put forth their leaves and flowers, so also must our young children who I suppose are a sort of bud themself. Our children ought to stay children for just so long as it takes for them to mature and be safe in this world. Children should not come out into the world until after the cold March winds of life have past.
From my own experience, and from that which I have observed, we should not push our children into any studies, duties, feelings, or pleasures beyond their years. They must learn to grow into them; this is how our Creator intended it to be. Many times we read about, or observe young boys trying to act like ape men, only to make monkey’s of themselves. They are turned loose on society to soon, smoking, drinking, drugs, and open sex seem to follow for many. The door of the world has been thrown wide open, much to soon, letting in; or is it letting them out into a world to willing to swallow up their youth?
But there are parents who do care, those who watch over, and guard as best they can their young sons and daughters. These are those buds that stick their heads above that which is protecting them before their time, but a caring hand of righteous men and women reach out and draws them back to a safe place.
Their Mays and Junes will come soon enough; but for some May and June come much too soon. In this they may be damaged or even winter-killed as some buds are; so let them be children as long as they are children.
Phil LaSpino www.seekfirstwisdom.com