April showers bring May flowers. That’s a saying that I’m sure we all have heard. This year we are praying for April showers. We have been in draught conditions for months. We need rain for crops, for gardens, for flowers, and to keep the water table at an appropriate level. We need water for life. We don’t always appreciate everyday items in our lives until they are missing. We may not always appreciate having enough water in our lives until we hit these draught conditions.
We may not appreciate our health until something happens, and our health isn’t as good as it once was. Many of you know by now that my husband had a TIA (transient ischemic attack) or mini stroke a few weeks ago. As he was finishing up his shift at work, he suddenly could not control his right hand. Within 30 minutes the symptoms had gone away, but now we wait as the doctors try to figure out what caused it so that it won’t happen again. Every medical professional who has seen him is amazed that the result wasn’t worse. It’s not that we didn’t appreciate our health before, but this incident reminds us how fragile life and health can be.
I’m part of an ELCA clergy Facebook group. There have been a good number of conversations on there over the past few years about small congregations that have closed. Sadly, COVID sped up the demise of many of them. Even though they have gone through a process of evaluation and decision making, it’s still said when the doors close for the final time and the building and contents must be sold. Sometimes we don’t appreciate our church and our congregational family until it’s too late.
However, April showers bring May flowers. Spring brings with it the promise of new life, and the opportunity to begin again. Animals have babies. Birds hatch their eggs. Trees bud, blossom, and leaf out. Flowers pop out of the ground. We make plans for our own gardens and our flower beds. The daylight stays longer than during winter. Hopefully, the weather will warm up. We have just celebrated the resurrection of Jesus Christ.
For me, Spring is an exciting time. I look forward to seeing how that new life which is all around us will develop and change. Hopefully, I also take some time to appreciate the new life and to give thanks for it. Hopefully, we all take some time to appreciate God’s handiwork in our lives.
Pastor Beth
