March Moments
Long, dark, and especially this year, cold days of winter, are creeping behind us. Whether March enters like a lion and exits like a lamb, we
welcome slightly longer days and shorter nights. Waking up to sunlight is a gift and more sun during the day enhances my mood. You too?
Some consider March a boring and in-between month. Outdoor winter sports have had their run and it’s not warm enough to spend lots of time outside. We sometimes don’t know which seasonal clothing to wear and question if we should begin to put sweaters away or not. But let’s re-think March. Apart from more daylight hours,
- March brings opportunities and benefits. Stores want to clear their shelves of Valentine chocolate and prices are slashed. Expiration dates invite you to enjoy chocolate and candy for months. What’s not to like about that?
- March is a planning season. As we “think Spring”, on a damp day or a temperature drop, take a walk through lawn and garden stores for a lift, and get ideas for color, additions, and replacements for our yards.
- March ushers in surprises. Bright yellow daffodils, purple crocuses and assorted tulips pop up through dormant soil and bring smiles to us for days. Daffodils symbolize rebirth and new beginnings and Spring is around the corner.
- March offers fun with friends. In March Madness, basketball fans and those loyal to their alma mater become experts in brackets and enjoy time together and friendly competition.
- March offers an excuse to enjoy your favorite pie. Whether it’s a savory quiche, a sweet dessert, or pizza (pie), math and non-math enthusiasts celebrate Pi Day on March 14. It’s a day dedicated to celebrating the ratio of a circle’s circumference to its diameter (approximately 3.14).
- March is a month to revisit and re-evaluate the goals and resolutions you made on
January 1st. With sixty days in, habits are established. Do I need to revamp, discard, or change goals? If you are among a resolution drop-out, March is a good time to start over. Do I need a re-set? Is the Bible verse, inspirational quote, or the word I chose for my year still meaningful and effective? - March is also contemplative. With Ash Wednesday falling on March 5, many begin a time of directed meditation to prepare their hearts for Good Friday and Resurrection Sunday. Have you found a devotional or meditations to guide you? Recommend one in the comments.
- March offers random excuses to celebrate.
Get out your Monopoly game on March 19 and celebrate World Monopoly Day.
Call a friend you haven’t talked to in a while. On March 10, 1876, Alexander Graham Bell made the first-ever phone call. It was to his assistant and he said “Mr. Watson, come here. I want to see you.
Eat a croissant or crepe on March 31, to commemorate the ascent by foot on that day in 1889, of the Eiffel Towner for the first time. Elevators weren’t installed yet.
Let’s rethink March. We can make it bright and colorful even if it rains and we don’t see daffodils in our yard. March 4th or is it forth? What are your ideas?
The Conversation
Another insightful and encouraging post, Marilyn. You highlight the magic of March in ways that make the future look more optimistic and helps us focus on our vision for the coming year. Solomon reminded us that everything is beautiful in its time, and we need to put that general statement in pragmatic terms sometimes in order to absorb what that beauty really looks like in the moment. So, happy Spring, and may the joy wrapped in it find you in unforgettable ways.
Ron, thanks for reading and commenting. I love the way you tied optimism and Solomon’s wisdom in Ecclesiastes 3 to March moments. Marilyn
I hope March doesn’t go out like a blustery lion, but if it does that should be the end of winter weather. Thanks for the optimistic tips for conquering the drearies.
I enjoyed this nessage, especially the reminder to stock up on chocolate. All joking aside, your suggestions for ways to celebrate March are great. Thank you!
I love your ideas for celebrating March! This is such an uplifting message. Whenever I spy those forst daffodils popping through the barren ground, I am flooded with hope. March carries many nuances of Spring!
March—a blessing to read about as I sit by my window on this rainy day. March brings hopes of chocolate with tea on cooler days, or Easter chocolate as days get warmer and more sunny (any time is a good time for chocolate, right?) March is the heralder of Spring as the trees start to bud and give hope of new life as we have hope in our Savior and His fullness of joy. Thank you for the encouragement about March!
Debby, I had to smile about the chocolate. If we bought Valentine chocolate, we can move right into Easter chocolate and not miss a beat. On a more serious and hopeful note, I appreciate your reminder of real hope and joy in Jesus. Thank you. Marilyn
Fun ideas! Thank you Marilyn for looking at March in a new and different way. The daffodils are beginning to bloom here, and even when the cold throws some wet weather its way like today, that Spring optimism is difficult to shut down! Grateful for Spring around the corner.
Sylvia, the first signs of color- often a bright yellow-are such a boost to longer often dreary days. However, today we have incessant rain. I read a statement, “when you see the flowers, you understand why you needed the rain.” True! Marilyn
For us in Oklahoma, March is for preparing for storm season with cleaning out the storm shelter and changing the batteries in the weather alarm. I love all your ideas and take advantage of some of them. Thanks Marilyn.
Yvonne, I hear you on a different twist to March. I lived in the snowbelt and we didn’t “think Spring” until late April, and even then we were occasionally caught by a snowfall. Marilyn
Thanks for the great ideas of how to rethink March. My church is having a special 3/16 Sunday preaching on John 3:16 and encouraging us to bring friends. March will be a great month!
Joanna, I love that idea to coordinate the date with a purpose. It gives real hope for March. Mrailyn