I came upon a winter garden,
and I found an enchanted place.
The Holly bushes were such a sight
with their red berries burning bright.
The squirrels, they scampered with delight,
their bushy tails, so thick with fur.
It made me laugh to watch them;
they put on such a show.
The birds, they flew from branch to branch,
so many vacant rooms to choose from.
I focused on the winter sky;
soon stars would take their places.
I could almost touch the shimmering glitter;
and yet, it was so far away, the stuff of dreams…
What if I could hold a silvery star in the deep of night,
or dance upon that January moon in my bare feet?
I could dance the night away, while all the world
was fast asleep…
The Good Night Song
The birds bid me goodnight…
They sang to me a song of spring,
a song of longing with quivering wings,
in the midst of a winter garden, soon to sleep.
A Work in Progress
These January days remind us of all we would like to be doing, all the things we hope to accomplish in the coming year. On gray-weather days, we remember the spring, a canvas of possibilities. It is fun in the deep of winter to peruse a gardening book blooming with radiant red roses, knowing that soon, those roses will be a reality.
If life is indeed a garden, the winter garden is a place of reflection. It is a time to ‘sort’ things out, a time to wonder, a time to let the quietude of the season teach us new things.
There is much to learn in the winter garden of life. The Bible tells us, “Be still and know that I am God.” (Psalms 46:10) Oh, the gifts that can come to us when we pause for a moment from our continuous worldly cares. God’s gifts are unending, and He is delighted to please us in big and little ways.
When we surrender our cares and worries to Him, there is a shift in our focus. Gratitude for His mercy, forces us to receive His blessings of peace and joy. We are made ‘new’ in our minds as only He can accomplish for us. (Ephesians 4:23) (Romans 12:2)
The winter garden is not barren, nor is it bleak. It is a place of quietude, a place of refuge, a place where miracles of the heart can take place.
I love to hear the birds singing on a cold winter morning. If I come out on the porch, the porch is alive with music!
Can it be that we can find our song in winter too? Can it be that deep within us, there is music that has never played before?
Imagine that. There is a new song within us that has never been sung before, not ever. There is a brand-new song waiting for this very moment, this very place in time to begin. (It may not be an actual song, but there is musicality within our souls when we use our gifts. When we listen to our hearts, there is harmony in our days.)
Birds simply sing, winter, summer, spring, and fall. They are full of music, and that is why they are such beloved creatures by us all. I believe that God knew we would need birdsong throughout our lives to help us remember on dark days that His light always shines, joy trumps sorrow every time.
There are lessons here for us. The birds sing and they do not have to ‘practice’ in order to begin. They are not worried about singing their best song, or about making a mistake.
They simply sing whatever the day, or the weather, or the season, for the most part. Perhaps, in the New Year, we should do the same. Simply begin. Simply sing. Most all the things we do are works in progress…mending, cleaning, fixing, creating, building, starting over again and again.
We ourselves are works in progress. There is so much more music within our souls. What better time than in the New Year to listen to all that wonder within, but on a January day?
The music we bring to the world matters, our own love songs that bring hope to others. A brand new year offers us so many opportunities to get it ‘right’, to finish the things we started, to begin new adventures we only dreamed about before.
(The weather has certainly been up and down…After our very cold snap, there is now a warming trend. My daffodils are confused, and a few are blooming!!!) They were blooming in the midst of our snow flurries. These are not new ‘snow photos’ as we did not have enough snow to cover the ground!!!) I have to admit, I was dreaming of snow and it did not happen! So, I have really enjoyed all the snow-filled photographs many of you have posted…thank you!}
I savor these hunker-down days. Your poetry is just lovely, as well as the winter scenes.
I agree with you about the hunkering down days! I love when there is a fire in the fireplace, and a nice stack of books to read. 🙂 I don’t know which is worse in winter…the thought of running out of firewood, or running out of books!
So much snow in your area and I love these images. Anita
We do not get a lot of snow…I am happy to get some!!! I have lived in places with lots of snow, Indiana in particular. We are in a warming trend right now. I am not complaining about that. Yesterday, it almost felt like springtime. 🙂
The birds singing, no matter what kind of day it is. That has always challenged me Linda. “Winter Garden” a very good reminder to make use of the alone time we can have before the spring labor begins.
Winter is a quieter time. Each season brings its own gifts. Unwrapping the gifts of each and every season is so important. I always loved summer best of all…I have so many happy summer memories. Still, God has created so much beauty and wonder in all of His creation. Every snowflake is a masterpiece, and we don’t get those in July!
What delightful poems and thoughts to share … we all have a song in our soul, if we’d only stop to listen 🙂
Yes! We must stop to listen…it takes practice! 🙂
practice and an open heart 🙂
Yes!
Such a lovely poem, Linda! Yes, Winter is the time when we have to slow down and simply live in the moment. And if we can stop shivering long enough, we can even appreciate its beauty! Ha! But seriously, thank you for this post. As my husband continues to struggle with the after-effects of the surgeries he had to remove his tumor, and as I had a recent health scare, I really appreciated the truth you wrote here: put it all in God’s hands, and a whole lot of the anxiety goes away. Rather than fretting over what might happen, I reminded myself that whatever comes, God will walk me through it. And that helped, enormously!
You and your husband are in my prayers. I hope the new year brings renewed health for both of you. I think we forget sometimes, but God is a very good listener. We can bring everything to Him, all our troubles big and small. Nothing is too little. All our cares matter to Him, every single thing. We can bring a whole list, and He listens! How wonderful to be heard, to be loved without any judgement, to simply know that He, God, our Heavenly Father, is there for us any time of the day or night. Even the prayers we do not speak, He hears. He knows our very hearts and love us so. Love is the great healer, and God’s love never fails us.
There is often a song in my heart; a song without words or music; yet surely a song toward my God and Savior.
That is absolutely beautiful. You are a born writer! This is a comment that I shall tuck within my own heart…thank you!
I quite like the notion of a winter garden.
Sometimes, when I think of a winter garden, I think of Robert Frost’s poem, “Stopping by Woods on a Snowy Evening”. In this case, the winter garden has ‘promises to keep’. The garden etching of black and white will fill with color come springtime. A canvas of black and white offers so much possibility overall…all that space to fill with something new, dreams to paint where there is nothing at all.
Beautiful. I enjoy reading your messages. Thank you for sharing your writing and glorious photos. Have a blessed day! 🙂
Thank you for your very kind comment! I do appreciate it! I wish you blessings as well…I feel that tug of springtime in the midst of these winter days. I have several gardening books with photographs of awesome gardens. (They are part of my fireside book collection, dreams of flowers yet to be.) 🙂
So descriptive. Love the pictures. I think I will make some hot tea now.
Thank you! A cup of tea is always a good idea! 🙂 I think the same thing about coffee… We are having some warm weather for the moment. I know it will be changing again soon enough so I am going to enjoy it!
God certainly knew what He was about when He created winters for us. A season of reflecting and pondering, of making plans and of hoping. Most of all perhaps, as you’ve pointed out, a time to be still and know Someone’s else keeping watch over us. Sometimes, that’s the hardest thing to accept, especially when things are not quite going ‘our way’. Yet, God continues to give us winters because He knows that it’s what we need.
Yes! We do need winters…making some room for quietude. We live in a world that is endlessly busy. God has instructed us to carve out a time set apart from this busy world. In the quiet moments, we often feel God’s presence with us so deeply. We are able to discern what is, and what is not, so important. Time is always slipping through our fingers, those grains of sand always spilling in the hourglass. God clearly wants to fill our hourglass with His love and His joy!
Some gorgeous photos Linda! I’d love to have a bit of snow, it’s so magical x
Thank you! The snow is magical! I am looking forward to spring as well, and there are surely signs!!! 🙂 Right now, we are enjoying a very warm day for January…
Hi, Linda, unfortunately, we are short on snow this year, too. I really enjoyed your powerful message here. “The music we bring to the world matters” – indeed it does. And the photos make me contemplate past winters! ☀️
We have had an unusual winter…a great deal of rain! Spring is just around the corner…I am looking forward to my gardening days ahead! (We need every bit of music, rain or shine, winter, summer, spring, and fall!)
Linda, I love the connection you’ve made between the winter season and the invitation to “Be Still and know that I am God.” One of the things I appreciate most about late fall and winter is that without the leaves I can see and hear the birds better, especially the various woodpeckers.
Winter is a special season. We are reminded to ‘slow down’ enough to appreciate all that is going on around us. The ‘winter world’ is quite beautiful in so many ways. 🙂
Beautiful poetry.
Warms my heart taking notice of His creation on an otherwise chilled winter day.
Thank you! I have my gardening books out…a bit of spring dreaming in these winter days. Indoors, we have an orange tree and a lemon tree. Believe it or not, there is fruit on both trees. It is really something to see that citrus fruit in the midst of winter. (It is also a lot of work, keeping those trees by a sunny window, watering, and fertilizing.) 🙂 Still, they are worth it!
A beautiful winter garden, Linda, and what a lovely metaphor it makes. I love all the seasons, including the dark cold days of winter. They each bring gifts that I’m happy to unwrap. Your poems are wonderful and fit together perfectly.
Thank you! You are right about the seasons…I like the change each season brings. There is always something new to look forward to, even as we enjoy the present time.
<3
Such beauty and serenity–and dancing in joy on the moon. 😊
Beautiful photos, too. I like the color (sunset?) behind the trees and the snow in the foreground.
The moon was so bright, it woke me up one night! The whole back yard was just flooded with light. I could see deep into the woods…quite awesome! 🙂 Clouds again today…It is certainly still ‘soup weather’. (I like when you post pictures of all your delicious homemade foods…) I am envisioning now one of your pots of soup on a cold winter’s day!
That moonlight must have been amazing!
I’m making a spicy lentil soup tomorrow. 🙂
Your poem speaks beautifully of the peace we experience at this quieter time of year. As for summer? After 40 years in FL, I had enough ultra-hot and humid weather to last me a lifetime! Now that we’re settled in the Midwest, I revel in these cozy, hunker-down days of winter with coffee or hot tea beside me! ‘Tis the season to rest a bit–the planting beds will require attention soon enough!
It seems we are in for an early spring…the ground hog did not see his shadow! 🙂 Either way, the winter season is a quieter time before the onset of busy springtime days. (It is certainly a good time to contemplate the garden, visions of what soon will be.) It is a very restorative thing to think about. And never has the work of the garden looked so easy, but in the winter months of planning!!! It must have something to do with the cozy glow of the fireplace and the glossy magazine photos of roses growing on a trellis, and the biggest tomatoes that you have ever seen…
how are you? long time no post?
It has not been that long! 🙂 I read a very good book, “Messy minimalism, Realistic strategies for the rest of us.”, by Rachelle Crawford. It was a great book and very inspiring. I have been ‘editing’ a great many items…holiday items for the children we know longer need, clothes to donate, etc. I still have my mom’s boxes of things, cards, letters, and photo albums. I am spring-cleaning in the midst of winter!!! I am pleased with the progress, though I have not parted with any of my cookbooks yet…
lol sounds like a constructive time … best to those things in winter so you can enjoy the outdoors once your weather improves. Take care kind friend … really appreciate your ongoing support 🙂
I look forward to your upcoming posts!!! Spring is around the corner here…I am ready! 🙂
🙂
Winter certainly beckons us to slow down and enjoy the beauty. There’s something special in that. We all need to slow down and be still to hear God’s voice. I love the thought of exploring our winter gardens and I love the imagery you used in your winter garden poem.
There is something magical about a winter garden…we know good things await and we must be patient! I have a garden angel in my side garden…I love to look at it in these winter months. It could use some cleaning-up right about now, but it is a happy thing. I have kept it in the same spot where I placed it many years ago when my children were still little. I can see it through my dining room window, winter, summer, spring, and fall. If it snows, I love it best because it looks so lovely covered in snow. In the summer, I put different flowers there from year to year. It is a remembrance of seasons past, and the promise of each new summer.
Linda, you paint a magical dreamy world in your poem, the wonder and endless possibilities are tantalising! Yes, the seasons are askew and we are rescuing the early daffodils as winter winds returned.
I have already brought a bunch of daffodils into the house. More of them keep popping up here and there. The weather has really been up and down…very cold, and then warm and sunny. It is that mixed-up time of year, but spring is definitely on its way!
Linda, there are so many details to treasure from this post. First, winter is indeed a time for reflection for those of us in the Northern Hemisphere. The slower pace offers extra time to think about the life we have as springtime waits in the wings. Second, we are blessed to have a Savior who reflects His light from a blood-stained cross. Thank you for sharing your poetry, photography, and narrative. God’s peace to you and your family.
Wishing you and your family peace as well…Spring will soon be upon us. Winter is a quiet time, and also a time for planning. I like to think of winter as fresh pages to write upon. Beyond a doubt, springtime thoughts show up on those pages!!!