…That Matters
No doubt about it, Spring has come to Sweden!
Maybe, just maybe the reason we all love Spring so much is because after just having celebrated Easter, we witness first hand God’s promise of life after death.
It makes believers of us as the new life Spring brings comes forth after the cold silent sleep of Winter. It thrills us inside as we watch hope and renewal burst forth from tiny sleepy buds into great big fat ones! It takes our breath away as in their turn, flowers spring up from the ground in all their beautiful glory. The sun’s warmth comes over the land again in Spring, as nature awakens to the songs of birds cheerfully heralding that the blessing and promise of new life is real…
Speaking of birds, Sweden is a bird watcher’s paradise. There are a b’jillion kinds of them and they sing all day long. I have no idea where they get all their energy…we sure love to hear them and watch them. This little guy to the right is called a Domherre….a pretty traditionally thought of Christmas bird because it is most commonly seen then.
One of our favorites is the Talgoxe (pronounced “tali’oxa”) whose clear, piercing sound actually sounds like a very unoiled squeaky gate! A few pips followed by 3-4 swings on the gate and you know who has come to seranade!
In Sweden, Easter is celebrated as a four day holiday/celebration…the Friday before Easter is Good Friday…called Långfredag. Saturday, the day before Easter, is called “Påsk Afton”…Easter is called “Påsk Dagen”…and the day after is called “Annandag Påsk”. Businesses pretty much close or vary hours as families gather over and across islands, inland places, by rail, bus, or car to celebrate being together. To most Swedes, Easter is not a religious holiday but it is celebrated wholeheartedly with eggs, candy, and family get-togethers. We and the Sister Missionaries serving in the Karlskrona Branch really enjoyed being invited to spend Easter with friends at their summer home on the island of Sturkö off the southeast coast of Sweden in the Baltic Sea…about a half hour away by car. It was wonderful to be outside and feel the welcomed sunshine although it was still a little bit on the cool side with the breeze off the sea. Just to be in a family environment with kids playing with cousins, good food, and lots of conversation in such a beautiful place – made for a wonderful day! Sweden is indescribably beautiful. Maybe it reminded us just a little bit like home!
Vårstjärnar – Spring Stars! 
Wild Violets
And, if it may be said…the true heart of the matter is really about love…the kind that matters – the kind of love that is forged in a lifetime of caring a little bit more about someone else every day as you help each other become your best selves…the kind of love you make possible together.
