On a Spring Day . . .

Today is one of those perfect spring days that make your heart sing and your spirit soar. The windows are open and a gentle breeze is playing with my lace curtains. From one window I can see three whitetail deer frolicking in our front yard. The other window gives me a wonderful view of the blue, blue sky and fragile new leaves opening on our oak tree. If I could see the back yard from here, I'd look out on our pond with it's soothing waterfalls, and, further back, near the forest, pert little yellow daffodils adding their touch of glorious color.

Everything is coming back to life after a long winter's nap. It's a time of renewal and hope ~ a time when everything seems possible. If the tiny little seeds and bulbs can live through the hostility of a frigid climate and grow again into beautiful flowers; if the dormant brown grass can turn into a velvety green carpet almost overnight, then surely we can survive the ups and downs of this rollercoaster ride called life.

We know the skies will eventually darken and the heavens will send electric spears of light coursing through them. The clouds will produce sheets of rain and the earth will vibrate with explosions of thunder. The tallest trees will swing back and forth with the angry wind. Those days, too, have a special beauty if one takes the time to appreciate it. The storms are necessary for the flowers, grass and trees to grow and flourish.

The same thing can be said of the dark times we experience in our lives. Without them, how could we appreciate all the goodness that comes to us? As we struggle through the stormy episodes, we grow stronger and more resilient; if we're lucky we learn and become wiser with each passing storm. Our confidence blossoms and we finally understand we're capable of withstanding even the most powerful onslaughts that life can deliver.

Without challenges, without obstacles, we fail to become the best we can be. Without challenges we never test or build our strengths. And, while we may sometimes think that's just fine with us, we wouldn't achieve the potential and possibility that lies within each of us. Like eaglets, we need to be pushed from the comfort of our nests if we are to learn to soar.

But, now, the day is perfect and I'm committing each moment of it to memory. On the next dark, stormy day, I'll pull it out and relive it.