Happy spring, everyone! The long-awaited season of renewal is finally here! (Okay, truth time: I’m writing this a couple of weeks in advance, so as I type this, spring is still in the future. But as you read this, we are two days into the new season, and I trust that it’s going splendidly.)

What comes to mind when you think of Spring? Spring Vacation? Spring Cleaning? Spring Fever? Spring Practice? Spring Allergies? Spring Showers? Wherever your mind lands when you hear “Spring ____,” it probably isn’t Spring Questions. But why not? Why should January get all of the “New Year, New You” questions? Why do we save internal reflection for end-of-year lists, or icebreakers for back-to-school season? I propose that we start making “Spring Questions” a think! (<— I just realized I wrote think instead of thing, but decided that it works. Let’s make it a think AND a thing!)

Since we’re telling the truth today (see my earlier confession about when I’m writing this), I’ll admit that I am all about asking and answering questions any time of year. (Just ask my friends! I’m a question queen.) In my book, the start—or end—of any event, holiday, activity, or season is a good time for some heartfelt soul-searching or interpersonal inquisitiveness. If you need a little more prompting to get your curiosity gears moving, consider this first week of spring your floral-scented nudge towards asking and answering some quality questions of yourself and those around you.

For your interrogative pleasure and convenience, I have some prompts for you. I’ve divided these questions into four categories: Junior Questions are discussion-starter questions you can have with your kids (or students or babysitting charges)—maybe on the way to and from spring tournaments or practices. Level Three questions are lighter, meant for casual conversations with friends (perhaps while enjoying the lingering daylight at the first patio Happy Hour of the season). Level Two questions are more intense and are great to talk over with a spouse or best friend (while out hiking among some spring wildflowers, maybe). Finally, the Level One questions are personal, reflective, and just for you: take them to your journal, pray over them, or simply ponder your answers during a relaxing hammock siesta.

JUNIOR QUESTIONS

1. What is one new seasonal activity you would like to try this spring?
2. What have you enjoyed most about spring in the past?
3. What is making you laugh these days? What makes you cry?
4. Is there anything that you are really great at? Or anything you really love doing more than other kids your age?
5. How can you show kindness to others this season?

LEVEL THREE QUESTIONS

1. In which season do you feel most like yourself? Why?
2. What memories, activities, or events do you associate with the season of spring?
3. What is something you enjoyed doing as a child?
4. What do you do for fun today? Would your childhood self have predicted this would become a future hobby?
5. What song best reflects how you feel about the stretch between now and summer?

LEVEL TWO QUESTIONS

1. What do you know about God today that you did not know at the beginning of winter?
2. What three things worked well for you this winter? What didn’t work well?
3. What is one thing you can do to deepen your relationships this season? (Bonus question: answer this for each other!)
4. What is an area of your life that could use some “spring cleaning”? What is one step you can take this week to get that process started?
5. Are there any new spring-related traditions you would like to adopt this year?

LEVEL ONE QUESTIONS

1. What is an unanticipated joyful moment you experienced this past winter?
2. What was a challenge this winter that you did not see coming? How did you handle it?
3. What is one thing you hope will look different about your life by the end of this spring?
4. What is something you need to add this season? What is something you need to let go of?
5. When you reflect back on the spring of 2022, what will you wish you had done? How will you make this a priority in the coming months?

I always end my conversations with Charleston by asking if he has any questions for me. I’ll do the same here. Is there anything you’ve been dying to ask me? I’d be happy to answer!