Hello, God. It's me, Mara.

You know, Lord, April has arrived! Since farming is in our background, it's delightful to hear farmers talk about this new season. It's also great to hear them talk about those new baby animals, cute baby bullocks being born.

Oh! Listen! It sounds like the birdies have come back. Next, we'll see the trees are about to bud and those lovely tulips are starting to peek up through the ground, oh, and the daffodils also. When we're close to the prairie, we'll see what we call prairie flowers, they are up and just about ready to bloom - so awesome.

Spring plowing has begun. The countryman will tell us that he is turning soil to prepare the seedbed so he'll be ready to plant oats, corn, grain, or wheat. He tells only half the truth as spring plowing is to prepare the soil, yes, but it is also to prepare the man! He, too, has to get the winter out of his bones and get the sun back into him again and also the wind.

The farmer has to know April, if he is to know May, July and September. So, as he plows his land, he is beholding spring! He feels the morning, he hears the red-wing blackbirds sing and smells the fresh-turned earth.

Ah! Spring on the farm; the farmer beholds spring, he plows, the mild sun beats down, the robins strut, calves cavort across the greening pastures, the brook across the way prattles and shimmers. The countryman is working the soil and the new season has begun. The earth belongs to him again, but he also belongs to the earth. Genesis 8:22; "As long as the earth remains, there will be springtime and harvest, cold and heat, winter and summer, day and night."

We thank You, Lord, for spring and all the birds that sing!

Love, Mara