Spring is springing...whoopity do!
In Wales, March 1 is celebrated as Saint David's Day and people wear leeks or daffodils in their button holes to celebrate. And according to an old gardening book, in a place called Lamarnarkshire, March 1st is called Whoopity Scoorie Day, and bells are rung to chase winter away.
Well, I'm for all that daffodils and whoopity and chasing winter away. The coming of spring is always cause for celebration and I identify with the daffy-dill since I am usually stricken with spring fever and act even daffier than usual. However, daffodils don't usually bloom in my yard as early as March 1st, so should I go to the grocer's and search for a leek to wear or would that by too daffy?
We gardeners are not the only ones who celebrate those bring cherry yellow daffodils. Poets, writes and artist are drawn to them to. Dorothy Wordsworth described daffodils that tossed and reel and danced, and seemed as if they verily laugh with the wind. Her famous brother, William immortalized them with "I wandered lonely as a cloud...when all at once I saw a crowd, a host of golden daffodils."
Well Lord, spring is springing and my daffodils will soon be dancing, but I am reminded that another name for the daffodil is the Lent Lily. It's that time again so I guess I'll have to quell the whoopity for a bit. Although no one welcomes the idea of Lent and repent, it really is a blessing to have this quiet time to pray and to ponder. It isn't a time to be sad. I can rejoice as well as repent, rejoice in the new life just beginning in my garden and use that example as encouragement for me to seek new growth in my spiritual life. And If I do enough weeding and seeding by Easter I will burst forth with a great whoopity of alleluias. Amen