BRING ON THE RAIN!
BRING ON THE RAIN!
I fondly remember one of my elementary teachers creating a bulletin board with the phrase April Showers Bring May Flowers. One half of the bulletin board featured large blue raindrops forming puddles in a darker blue, while the other half displayed large colorful flowers, green grass, and a bright yellow sun. I vividly remember that the artwork and lettering were created with thick construction paper, a rough, coarse-textured paper used heavily for art projects and crafts in my school years.
I’m not sure exactly which of my elementary teachers created the bulletin board, but the illustration and verse have stayed with me over the years, and each spring I remind myself of these words as I watch the beautiful spring flowers bloom.
Finding Beauty
A beauty that can only be admired after the heavy rains because, let’s face it, April showers aren’t always embraced. The rainy days are spent indoors while the sunless sky showers down raindrops, sometimes accompanied by wind, thunder, and lightning. It’s the gloomy days that get me! I am fully aware of the impact the dark skies and rain have on my thoughts and moods. But, without the rain, how can I appreciate the beautiful flowers and the freshness of spring?
As I reflect on my favorite phrase, I realized I wanted to learn a bit more about the expression. All these years of retelling these words, and I’d never taken the time to research the origin of the writer of these words.
Sweet Showers
I was pleased to learn the words were part of a collection by Thomas Tusser in the 1500s. He wrote, “Sweet April showers do spring May flowers.” I say pleased because there are times when I’ve learned a favorite phrase or quote had a hidden meaning much different than my perception and entirely out of line with my beliefs or values, so you can imagine how apprehensive I was to delve into the meaning of my favorite phrase.
Furthermore, these words are words of encouragement to me. For many years, I have continued to remind myself of the beauty that follows the stormy skies. I hope these words encourage you as well. As we experience the heavy rains of life, we must be encouraged to keep the faith, because after the rains come a burst of beautiful flowers.
The Rains Come Down
Are you encouraged? Does it seem that everywhere you turn, there’s disappointment, pain, or circumstances beyond your control? Does the rain keep coming? Well, my friend, life is just that…circumstances we cannot control. But what we can control is our response. Trust me. I’ve been there. An acquaintance recently suggested I write a book about my journey. My response, “I’m not sure anyone would believe it!” In all honesty, I’ve been through some pretty harrowing experiences and made some rather poor choices. But my experiences have shaped me into the person I am today.
More importantly, it is through these experiences that I have been found, and all for the better because beauty only appears after the storm.
After the Rain
My storms gave me strength I would never have had had I not persevered through the challenging times. My compassion and my love for simple things increased. I am much more appreciative. And, I love to encourage and uplift those around me. I also like building and creating. You see, I’ve grown through my experiences. I did not just go through the dark times; I grew through them. Just as a flower blooms, I pushed through, and I am happy to share that I am a much better person today because of my past – the good, the bad, and the ugly. The rains did stop, and the flowers bloomed just as God promised.
Life Blooms
Today, I want to encourage you right where you are at this very moment in your journey. Let’s endure the rain together and wait patiently for the beauty of the flowers that will spring forth when the rains let up. The rains and circumstances in our lives are temporary.
Are you experiencing some rain in your life at this time? It could be steady rain or torrential rain. Either way, I encourage you to remain hopeful. It will pass, and when the rain stops, the clear blue sky will shine upon you, and life will, in effect, bloom, and that, my friend, is a promise!
“I will bless my people and their homes around my holy hill. And in the proper season, I will send the showers they need. There will be showers of blessing.” Ezekiel 34:26 (NLT)
Image Credit by Beth Briggs Illustrations
