I don’t know who first used this term, but it is sooooo appropriate for this time of year—every year. Last week, I blamed the kids’ craziness on the full moon, but this week I’m blaming spring weather, flowers, the return of the birds, etc.  Of course, here in New England spring takes a good while before actually settling in to more moderate weather, but we still celebrate.  And as soon as she begins to show the first signs of waking up, we all throw off our big coats and start to pretend that it is warm outside. 

Teaching during this time of year is fun though difficult.  Spring fever doesn’t restrict itself to teenagers, and I have to fight the urge to run away from my work and just play games.  A few things help to keep me at my desk, but today I came across a Proverb that was especially applicable.

Proverbs 14: 23   In all labor there is profit: but the talk of the lips tendeth only to penury.

Reading this I realized a tendency to avoid work by talking about or planning to do work.  One of the biggest weaknesses I fight is procrastination, and a nice way of gettting around diligence is by talking about doing the work.  Also, this verse reminds me that I need to work and value it not for its rewards but for itself.  In all my work there is profit, not just in the work that brings me praise or self-satisfaction.  Hopefully, I will continue to remember this principle as I battle my own case of spring fever.