Drops

Last week we had a light rain. It wasn't a pounding rain, or even a pouring rain, just a light misty rain that made it necessary to wear a raincoat but not enough to make it hard to drive the car, for instance. And at one point I looked out the front window of my house and saw the Japanese maple tree, which absolutely glimmered in the light. I walked closer to the window to try and get a better look. There were big drops of water all over the tree, on each tiny branch end, a bubble of liquid reflecting the light of the morning, causing it to shimmer in the midst of a dreary day. What a gift!

Sometimes its the smallest things that I find joy in. A sparkling tree on a rainy day, a layer of fog on the green, or a crocus pushing up through the dirt. These are the little gifts of everyday life that make it fun to get up and out of bed because they're too special to miss. And I wonder how many people go about their days without ever taking the time to notice. There's a saying about God not always shouting at us but sometimes whispering in our ears. If we're too busy we may not even hear those whispers, and what a tragedy that is.

I can still see that tree in my mind's eye. Had it been raining harder it would never have looked like it did. It was a tiny moment in time, only there for the shortest of periods, and I like to think it was there just for me. Because someone up there knew how much I would appreciate it and everyone likes their handiwork to be appreciated.