God's Choice

What season would bless planet Earth's first day?

ZAP!

Upon His word, planet Earth came bursting, hurdling through the edge of darkness. Then, guided by His invisible hand, took its' place in orbit, around the sun.

Now, below the heavens, lay a new world.

God had created man and woman. He had created all that there ever would be. He had shaped it in His own vision.

The universe, stars, plants, birds, and all other animals, large and small, began to freely roam the earth. The oceans were filled with their own life; from the largest whale, to the smallest fish.

He had blessed all of His creations with spirits in all things - from the mountains, to the trees, to the tiniest insects that lived upon the ground.

Then, God released the Four Winds - North, South, East, and West. He sent them twisting, churning, swirling down from the heavens. He sent them to the four farthest corners of the planet beneath them.

Still, one thing remained: What season would bless planet Earth's first day?

Curiosity consumed the angels. They decided to find out.

Angels Goodness and Grace landed softly on His left shoulder. Angels Reflection and Remembrance, their white wings fluttering, settled in on His right.

"I've heard your words," said God, "and I know your thoughts."

"Bring forth your choices angels," God said. "Bring them to me, one at a time. And from them, I shall choose."

The four angels looked at one another nervously. Finally, the bravest one stepped forward.

"I bring before you the season of Spring," Angel Goodness said.

"Spring? And what does this season of Spring mean?" God asked curiously.

"It would be a time of dreams and hope," replied Angel Goodness. "It would also be a time when seeds would be planted. Food would be grown, from the soil of the earth."

Spring then entered God's cloud. She came rolling in on a carpet of endless sunshine. She bowed her flowery head to God, saying, "On the first day, I will bring warm, fresh breezes to Mother Earth."

"With your blessing," Spring said, with growing confidence, "I will bring needed to the farmer's land. I will send it to the rivers and mountain streams. This rain will bring brightly-colored flowers to every child's hand. This rain will also bring lush, green grass, on which all animals will graze."

"This may be true, Spring," said God. "Your season will bring joy and promise to this new world. Along with crops and flowers, what will also be planted will be the seeds of hope, for mankind."

"But, Spring will also bring goodwill," offered Angel Goodness, "raising man's spirits. These are the things that Spring would bring."

"Bringing good will among men," God said, "is indeed a beautiful thing. You do offer hope, Spring. Hope will always raise man's spirit, that much is true. One these facts, Spring, I will consider."

"Thank you, God," Spring said.

Angel Goodness then led Spring away. She directed Spring to sit in the first of four seats, in a gleaming, glorious, golden chariot. The chariot was led by four majestic, white horses. They were waiting anxiously, outside the heavenly gates.

From her seat, Spring awaited her future fate.

Angel Grace was next. She brought forth the season of Summer. He stood there, shining brightly, in the heavenly sky.

"I present to you, the season of Summer. He will come, and with your blessing," said Angel Grace, "will bring great warmth to Mother Earth. It will also be a time when plants will grow. These plants will grow, along with fields of corn and wheat, to feed man. It will also be a time when all flowers will bloom."

"Yes," God said, turning towards Summer, in His cloudy throne. "But man must not be distracted by food alone. His duty is to please me. Man must treat this, his new world, with respect."

"Your warmth and deeds," said God to Summer, "will comfort man's soul. On these facts, I will consider."

Summer then turned, entering the chariot. He took his seat next to Spring, awaiting his fate.

"God," Angel Reflection said, bowing before Him, "I present to you the season of Autumn, a season of change."

Autumn then knelt before Him, saying, "With your blessing, it will be a time when green leaves turn red, yellow, and golden brown, covering the bare soil.

Autumn then stood up, saying, "it will also be a time when crops are brought in to harvest."

"Yes, Autumn," said God. "Your season will be a time when some of my creations will go to sleep. But, it will also be a time when great beauty will sleep across the land and mountains. On these facts, I will consider."

Then, Autumn bowing, was escorted away by Angel Reflection. She took her seat in the chariot.

"This God, is the season of Winter," Angel Remembrance said, walking him up before God's throne.

"Winter will be a time when snow, ice, and cold grips the land," Angel Remembrance said, with Winter swirling around her.

"But Winter will also be a season that will bring great beauty and joy," God said. "His season will be one in which man looks back on what once was, and what the future could be again."

Angel Remembrance then watched as Winter took the last seat in the chariot. Now, the horses began pawing at the billowing clouds beneath them, waiting patiently.

The four angels were now floating about nervously, anxiously awaiting God's decision.

The cloud from which God spoke, now hovered above the golden chariot.

"Angels," came His booming voice, "no one season is more important, or valued, more than the other."

The four angels looked at one another, confused.

Then God said, "Gather around angels, and then you will know." The four angels then formed a small circle beneath God's cloud.

"Angel Goodness, you brought forth to me the season of Spring. And like Spring, I have created you in her likeness. You see hope, and your season brings with it a breath of fresh air."

Then, God's cloud moved on, hovering over Angel Grace.

"Angel Grace, you brought forth to me the season of Summer. Summer was also made in your likeness, with the sense of compassion. Summer brings rain to the thirsty soil."

Now, God's could moved on yet again, stopping over Angel Reflection.

"Angel Reflection, I created you in my likeness to be both thoughtful and deliberate. The season of Autumn has these same qualities. Autumn is also graceful, as the trees lose their leaves. Autumn is also deliberate, like you, bringing colder temperatures to the land."

God cloud then stopped over Angel Remembrance.

"Angel Remembrance, you've brought before me the season of Winter."

Angel Remembrance, then looked down, awaiting her fate.

"The season of Winter was created in my likeness. He, therefore, is much like you," God said. "Winter looks back at the past, full of memories, and then also to the future, of what can be."

With that, the four angels were lost for words.

"Fear not," said God, sensing their confusion. "Now that you know that you are all part of the four seasons, as you've presented them, they will all share in the great joy of celebration, on their first day on earth."

Then, God, with a wave of His hand, signaled the golden chariot to begin its' journey.

Instantly, the chariot sped away, going down, down, down, the four seasons now awaiting their fate.

"Spring," God commanded, "be gone!"

Spring sprung from the speeding chariot. Landing, she immediately began casting sunshine and cool winds with her left hand. With her right hand, she sent soft, soaking rains out to the land. Rivers, streams, and creeks all grew larger with the rain, spilling over their banks.

Ducks, beavers, and otters began building their homes in the thick reeds and riverbanks.

"Summer," ordered God, "be gone!"

Summer leaped from the chariot, landing with a heavy thud. In doing so, he set off rolling thunderstorms across the dusty, thirsty earth. He then went lumbering across the land, pouring rainwater as he went.

His raindrops fell upon grateful plants and thirsty animals. This rain filled endless ponds of water, from which they could drink. Sunshine followed him, and quickly, butterflies and bees began floating down, landing on sunflowers, and into the dark, green grass.

"Autumn," God said, "be gone!"

Autumn jumped from the chariot, falling head over heels towards her new home. In leaving, she lost her balance, with her left foot clipping the chariot. This caused the trees to shaking, sending leaves of red, green, and golden-brown, tumbling to the ground.

Standing up, Autumn shook her head, sending cool breezes off into the surrounding valleys and mountaintops.

Squirrels took this as a sign of things to come. They began gathering nuts as they began falling on to the hard ground.

"Winter," said God, "be gone!"

With Winter leaving the chariot, the four horses began galloping their way back to heaven, with God's blessing.

Winter shook his large, shaggy head, sending snow, ice, and sleet, covering the land. Soon, icicles hung from heavy bare tree branches. Polar bears suddenly pulled themselves out of the icy waters at the Arctic Circle.

The four angels, watching, now rejoiced. They were filled with wonder and awe, at His wisdom.

They now hovered above the Earth, in a semi-circle, looking down upon it.

"He has pleased us all," said Angel Everlasting.

"He has honored us all," said Angel Grace.

"He has shared all of our thoughts and ideas," said Angel Reflection.

"And most of all," said Angel Remembrance, "He has shown his love for us by being both kind and just."

And then, in the distance, they could see them coming. It was a new class of guardian angels arriving. And, as a new class, they were now floating freely about. They were wandering off in every direction, circling around God's heavenly gates.

"Who's turn is it this time?" sighed Angel Remembrance, turning towards the other three.

"They won't teach themselves," added Angel Reflection, looking away.

Angels Grace and Angel Goodness had now taken a sudden interest in the stars above.

God turned away. For amongst themselves, He already knew what the answer would be. And He also knew that there would be more miracles to come.

THE END