How bright and glad it is! When the cold, northern blasts are over, and the soft, balmy breezes take their place, all nature seems to rejoice. The sun shines brightly, the little birds sing their sweet songs: then comes the gentle rain, making the grass look fresh and green: and next, the tiny buds bin to swell, telling us that soon the bushes and the trees will put on their beautiful foliage: then comes the bright blossoms, filling the air with fragrance.
How pleasant it all is! and it all speaks to us of the goodness of God who gives us the rain from heaven, and fruitful seasons, filling our hearts with food and gladness.
But as the sweet blossoms unfold, putting on new life and beauty, and as the icy blasts find their home in the far away Arctic regions, and, for a time, cease to trouble us, do we not see something more than God’s goodness to us in the beautiful spring time? Does it not speak to us of the eternal spring time upon which we shall enter when we go to be with Jesus?
There are many rude blasts that reach us in this world; there are many storms of trial and sorrow that even you, dear children, feel; but there, storms will never come, sorrows will never more be known, and all will be bright and beautiful in that happy home to which all who love Jesus are going.
Here the spring time, with its freshness and its loveliness, passes away: the flowers fade and die, the grass withers, the leaves fall, and the wintry blasts return.
But there, the freshness will never fade, the beauties of that scene will never pass away. Its joys will fill our hearts, and these joys will flow on forever.
Another thing I want to tell you, dear boys and girls; we will never grow weary there. Sometimes you get tired of your plays and your playthings down here, but up there the pleasures will be always fresh and new. Oh! how happy we will be, and how blessed it is to think about it!
So, dear children, when the spring time opens with its cheer and gladness, allow your thoughts to dwell upon that coming happy spring time which will continue in all its freshness and beauty throughout eternity.
Now just one little word more. I want to tell you that Jesus, that blessed One, who has suffered for our sins, will make the brightness and the joy of all that happy scene. Think of Him and of what we shall have when with Him, and your hearts will be as full of happiness as the spring time is full of brightness and cheer. R.
ML 05/28/1899