It was an icy cold Saturday morning in mid-December, and Moira was waking unrefreshed after a particularly demanding week. Into her heart a clear thought came sailing like cupid's arrow, igniting my sluggish embrace of the day with sweet surprise: Katherine's here! 

No, it wasn't a dream. Her 18-year old daughter was sleeping in her own bed after her first semester of university studies away from home. The prospect of a new day was instantly warm and bright; the residue of the week's challenges had blown away! 

The epiphany was wonderfully familiar…

On August 13th, 1991, at 2 a.m., a nurse came into the hospital room where Moira was resting. Yet her eyes opened instantly at the gentle announcement: "Mrs. Brown, Katherine's here." 

It was like Christmas morning as a child again, only much more exciting. This was a little eternal soul - a part of her; a miracle! 

Moira and Richard's tiny treasure had changed her role and responsibilities - her world - in a moment. She was a brand new Mom!  Wonder and delight, mixed with scary unknowns and insecurities, were wrapping her as tightly as the hospital receiving blanket bound the seven-pound, nine-and- a-half-ounce package being presented. Only the expectant little face was exposed, with eyes wide open, ready to meet her. 

Winter 2014 has been a tough waiting room.   There is the hope and anticipation of spring with all that blossoms bright and fresh and new, but the season of new beginnings is held captive by the last roars of winter's cold, ice and snow. 

Similarly, life's circumstances can be wearying, seemingly endless at times, robbing us of great expectations. The good news is that seasons come and go! 

As Proverbs 4:18 (ESV) says: 

"The path of the righteous is like the first gleam of dawn, shining ever brighter until the full light of day." 

As God's children we need to live our lives with confident faith and quiet optimism.  Our heavenly Father encourages this perspective through the prophet Isaiah: 

"Forget the former things; do not dwell on the past.  See, I am doing a new thing! Now it springs up; do you not perceive it?  I am making a way in the desert and streams in the wasteland" (Isaiah 43:18,19 NIV). 

God loves you, and God loves new! As the old adage says, "Why wait for spring?"  Look for His sweet surprise today!