By Cathie Ostapchuk

I heard something this morning.

I thought I might be dreaming — but I listened again and, yes, it sounded like birds singing a morning hymn.

Could it be that February is passing more quickly than we had hoped? That winter, which once felt endless, is already loosening its grip?

After last week’s reflection on being held enough to keep going, I find myself asking a different question: What are we BEHOLDING in our midst?

Winter has a way of narrowing our vision. Weariness can shrink our perspective until all we see is what feels heavy. But BEHOLD invites us to lift our gaze — not to deny the fatigue, but to notice what else is quietly forming

Birdsong in February is not spring.
But it is a promise.

And now, as we step into Lent, the Church invites us into another kind of attentive waiting. Lent is not rushed hope. It is honest reflection. It is walking with Christ through wilderness before resurrection breaks open the sky. It teaches us that renewal often begins underground — in repentance, in surrender, in quiet faithfulness.

In Scripture, Elijah’s story doesn’t end under the broom tree. After rest, nourishment, and the still small voice, he rises again — not because the threat disappears, but because God meets him there. Renewal often begins before circumstances change.

Perhaps that is what BEHOLD is teaching us this year, especially as we mark ten years of Gather Women. Over a decade, we have seen that endurance is rarely dramatic. It is built in small obediences. In ordinary mornings. In choosing to notice grace before it becomes obvious.

To live well and lead whole means we train our eyes to see what God is already doing — even in the wilderness seasons.

And now, as we step into Lent, the Church invites us into another kind of attentive waiting. Lent is not rushed hope. It is honest reflection. It is walking with Christ through wilderness before resurrection breaks open the sky. It teaches us that renewal often begins underground — in repentance, in surrender, in quiet faithfulness.

In Scripture, Elijah’s story doesn’t end under the broom tree. After rest, nourishment, and the still small voice, he rises again — not because the threat disappears, but because God meets him there. Renewal often begins before circumstances change.

Perhaps that is what BEHOLD is teaching us this year, especially as we mark ten years of Gather Women. Over a decade, we have seen that endurance is rarely dramatic. It is built in small obediences. In ordinary mornings. In choosing to notice grace before it becomes obvious.

To live well and lead whole means we train our eyes to see what God is already doing — even in the wilderness seasons.

Maybe for you it’s not birdsong, but something equally quiet:

A small spark of desire returning.
A conversation that reminded you who you are.
A glimmer of clarity where there was only confusion.
The courage to take one faithful step.

February can still feel long. The light still fades early. The weariness Bianca named last week may not have vanished. But Lent reminds us that wilderness is not the end of the story.

Where is life already stirring?
Where is hope already humming beneath the surface?
Where is God preparing something you cannot yet fully see?

The birds do not wait for full bloom before they sing. They sing because morning is coming.

Sister, you may not feel fully restored yet. That’s okay. You are still held. And because you are held, you can keep going - gently, faithfully, attentively.

Lift your eyes.
The morning is closer than you think.
And what we BEHOLD in this Lenten season may become the courage we need for resurrection joy.
If you are still in winter, but longing for spring, you are not alone. Many women have found **The Studio** to be that pathway — a space where you are formed gently, honestly, from the inside out. Not pressured into bloom, but nurtured toward it. Click **here** for more information.

And as we step into our BEHOLD year — marking ten years of Gather Women — we are reminded that this work continues only because this community believes in it. If you’ve been nourished here, would you consider helping sustain it? A monthly gift of $20 or $50 helps ensure Canadian women continue to be connected, formed, and mobilized.

Donate Here