Therefore will the Lord wait, that he may be gracious unto you" (Isa.
Where showers fall most, there the grass is greenest. I suppose the fogs and mists of Ireland make it "the Emerald Isle"; and whenever you find great fogs of trouble, and mists of sorrow, you always find emerald green hearts; full of the beautiful verdure of the comfort and love of God.
O Christian, do not thou be saying, "Where are the swallows gone? They are gone; they are dead." They are not dead; they have skimmed the purple sea, and gone to a far-off land; but they will be back again by and by. Child of God, say not the flowers are dead; say not the winter has killed them, and they are gone. Ah, no! though winter hath coated them with the ermine of its snow; they will put up their heads again, and will be alive very soon.
Say not, child of God, that the sun is quenched, because the cloud hath hidden it. Ah, no; he is behind there, brewing summer for thee; for when he cometh out again, he will have made the clouds fit to drop in April showers, all of them mothers of the sweet May flowers. And oh! above all, when thy God hides His face, say not that He hath forgotten thee. He is but tarrying a little while to make thee love Him better; and when He cometh, thou shalt have joy in the Lord, and shalt rejoice with joy unspeakable. Waiting exercises our grace; waiting tries our faith; therefore, wait on in hope; for though the promise tarry, it can never come too late. ━C. H. Spurgeon
Oh, every year hath its winter
And every year hath its rain
But a day is always coming
When the birds go north again.
When new leaves swell in the forest
And grass springs green on the plain
And alders’ veins turn crimson
And the birds go north again.
Oh, every heart hath its sorrow
And event heart hath its pain
But a day is always coming
And the birds go north again.
Is the sweetest thing to remember
If courage be on the wane
When the cold, dark days are over
Why, the birds go north again.