The Character of Spring

# The Character of Spring

Do you know where the character for Spring comes from? I have a friend in church named Xuan, a pastor's wife also named Xuan, I also know a pastor named Xuan; a relative also named Xuan; and a late uncle whose given name was Xuan. Moreover, each year when the New Year begins, I hear the character Xuan mentioned many times, so I wanted to know where it comes from. According to an article online by Mr. Du Bao Ying, the character Xuan comes from Chinese, formed by combining "Jia Gu" and "Jin Wen," and later evolved to include the symbol of plants and grass (represented by two characters meaning "fresh and flourishing") and the sun (日). After three months of winter, the sun is nearly hidden, the sky is often dark, and winter's bitter cold causes trees to shed their golden leaves, standing bare and stripped. But when spring arrives, warm sunlight shines on the earth, reviving all things, and trees sprout new growth and buds. Thus, the character XUAN 春 carries the meaning of the beginning of a year, as the saying goes: "A year's fortune begins with spring, a day's fortune begins with morning," meaning "A year begins with spring, and a day begins at dawn." From this, the character Xuan 春 has also taken on the meaning of youth and spring of life, and we often hear someone has experienced a "return to spring," referring to someone becoming young again like in their youth. For the people of an agricultural country in the subtropical region like Vietnam, spring is also the planting season. People place all their hopes for the year on spring, hoping that the planting season will bring abundant harvest. So surely everyone wishes their life to always be a spring, doesn't it?

Has your new year begun? What is your spring? Do you wish for your life to be bright and young, like the spring of youth? As God's children, we must begin everything from God—all our intentions, plans, and desires must start from God! We must read and meditate on God's Word, and ask God to reveal His will to us; because God is the One who knows all things, the All-knowing, All-powerful One, the One who loves us, and He alone gives us what is best and guides us in His providence! We must begin from God's Word, for "O Lord, your word is established in heaven forever" (Psalm 119:89). We must love God's Word, we must "meditate day and night, so that you may be careful to do everything written in it; then you will be prosperous and successful" (Joshua 1:8).

Moreover, at the New Year when spring arrives, we need to examine our hearts afresh, so that we may "offer your bodies as a living sacrifice, holy and pleasing to God—this is your true and proper worship. Do not conform to the pattern of this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind. Then you will be able to test and approve what God's will is—his good, pleasing and perfect will" (Romans 12:1-2). Our God is the God who knows all things and He always examines our hearts, as He said to Samuel, "...The Lord does not look at the things people look at. People look at the outward appearance, but the Lord looks at the heart" (1 Samuel 16:7b). Let us guard our hearts daily, so that we do not sin against God and may live joyfully in His care. "Above all else, guard your heart, for everything you do flows from it" (Proverbs 4:23).

Each day, we need to ask God to give us a heart that loves and yearns for His Word, as we see in Psalm 119: "I rise before dawn and cry for help; I have put my hope in your word. My eyes stay open through the watches of the night, that I may meditate on your promises" (Psalm 119:147-148). Thank you, faithful God, for giving us spring according to its proper season each year, to remind us to examine our hearts! We ask that God help us guard our hearts carefully, so that we do not fall, go astray, or turn away from Him! May He give us a heart that fears God and loves people, always following His teachings, so that our lives may always glorify God's Name, and be sanctified to become "salt and light" to show others the way so they may see, know, and come to receive Him as the Savior of their lives! Amen!

Spring announces a new year, With all your heart and soul, be prepared, Examine within and without, according to God's will, He grants His blessing joyfully, overflowing with peace!

Revere, obey, the Living Word, Meditate day and night, on every path, Stand firm in doing, and grow in faith, Help others know God, reach the whole world!

In Christ, Durene Ngo

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