Snowy Sunshine

 The sun made an appearance yesterday, which somehow transformed the frigid cold of winter into a more bearable season. Tom and I got out for a cross-country ski through the woods, which gave us the opportunity to soak up some of that sun! In this part of the country, during the long "bleak mid-winter", we begin to feel like underground moles, unaccustomed to the light, since it's been gray for so long. January, which in recent years has become a month of loss and pain for me, seems more hopeful when I see those rays of sunshine.

It reminds me of the Beatles song:

Here comes the sun
Doo doo doo doo
Here comes the sun and I say
It's alright

Little darling, it's been a long, cold, lonely winter
Little darling, it feels like years since it's been here...

Here comes the sun
Doo doo doo doo
Here comes the sun and I say
It's alright

Little darling, the smiles returning to the faces
Little darling, it seems like years since it's been here...

 I recently returned from visiting our daughter and her family in sunny New Mexico, where, even in the winter cold, the sun shines reliably almost every day. I was thankful to be able to visit for our granddaughter's 8th birthday, and Leila's sunny smiles added some special sparkles to the beautiful weather.

Coming back home to snowy weather and gray days, however, made me think about how easy it is to take sunshine and blue skies for granted when you see them all the time, as my daughter, son-in-law and granddaughter do. Here in Rochester, when we have a sunny day in the dead of winter, it seems like a wonderful gift and we run outside to greet its warmth, excited and grateful.

I guess many aspects of life are like that; too easy to take for granted when you have them all the time. Family, a warm home, plenty of food to eat, our five senses, freedom, sunshine and nature, to name just a few. I'm sure it's easy to think of more. No matter what our circumstances are, whether we are experiencing pain or joy, there is always something beautiful and hopeful.

That's where gratitude comes in, being thankful for the good things that each moment brings. As I gazed outside at the lovely snow, brilliantly sparkling, and then moved to sit in front of the fireplace, so cozy and warm, my heart filled with light and a quiet voice whispered;
"all will be well". The winter will pass and spring will come with its light and new growth to give us strength and hope.The gray-white world will pass into greenness and life will come again.

 Thank you, thank you, thank you God!