The sky is overcast today with a blue tint to the layers of gray clouds. The rain is pouring down, the wind blowing, making the bamboo dance and twist and bend way down. The bird feeders outside the lady den windows have been full of goldfinches and cardinals all day. Not even the bold wind gusts have made the birds take to the trees. A lone wren has been sitting on the suet basket, round as a little pig, his brown tail feathers standing straight up, chowing down on the hot pepper suet. A chubby squirrel has been playing tag with Penelope through the windows. The squirrel climbs up the feeder pole, starts shoving seeds in its mouth with both hands, fast as it can go, Penelope woofs from the back of the sofa, squirrel jumps down then immediately comes back, and the game of tag begins again. Stew even came down from upstairs to see what all the commotion was about. I could see the Shady Oaks lecture run through his mind and it was going to include Penelope this time.

I love rainy days. Time to relax and reflect as the raindrops and wind and wind chimes compose a euphonious yard symphony. George Santanya said, “The earth has music for those who listen.” And boy does she have beautiful music! Today I heard music from the bamboo’s thin stems and fronds rustling in the wind, the long lonely music in the wail of a train’s whistle echoing down the wet track, the raindrops singing on the metal roof next door, and the loud banging tintinnabulations of the wind chimes. If it wasn’t raining, I’d hear an everyday symphony of swing chains, bird songs, wind chime pings, train whistles, the “kuk kuk” of gray squirrels fussing, and a glorious classical music concerto, featuring the sun as the soloist, only I hear this music in my mind, from the beauty of the sunset.

Today would have been a sit by the fireplace reading day for me and Chief. I really miss the fireplace in Alexander City. I have gas logs in my living room fireplace here and a wood fireplace in the kitchen. Some unknown problem leaves the kitchen fireplace unusable. So, I settled for my heated cardinal blanket and my book of quotes to spend the rainy day with.

There are so many beautiful quotes about rain. Some of my favorites — “Rain showers my spirit and waters my soul,” Emily Logan. “The rain is nature’s tears of joy,” Michael Bassey Johnson. “Let the rain kiss you. Let the rain beat upon your head with silver liquid drops. Let the rain sing you a lullaby,” — Langston Hughes. “Like fingers on a piano, rain tickles the world, creating song and wonder,” —Unknown.

The rain, in its “silver liquid drops,” waters Mother Earth and washes her clean. Rain fills my bird baths and the creek behind my house and washes pollen off my porch, dust off my car. Our tears wash us of sorrow and highlight our eyes with joy. Water cleans the earth as tears clean our soul. Don’t be afraid to let your tears fall. A good cry will make you feel better and ease the burden of sorrow. Tears of happiness make our hearts sing with joy and our eyes sparkle with love. Never thought of rain as nature’s tears of joy. But when it rained forty days and forty nights, I wonder if nature was crying tears of sadness while flooding the earth with her tears of rain.

“Let the rain sing you a lullaby.” I love that sentence. Love sleeping with the windows open letting the rain lull me to sleep with its intoxicating rhythm and sounds. I slept with a window open last night. I love a rainy day! Ever walked in a soft shower of rain or splashed in puddles on the sidewalks. So much fun! When my grandsons were toddlers I let them play outside in a summer rain dressed in their just underwear. They were thrilled and giddy with giggles running around and splashing in the wet grass. I was thinking the soft rain was kissing their sweet little faces with happiness. They were so excited to tell their parents they played outside in the rain. “Some people walk in the rain, others just get wet,” Roger Miller. I like to walk in the rain with God and let him cleanse my soul of worries. Penelope and I walked in a soft rain this morning.

In the Bible Isaiah tells us that God’s words to us are like rain to the land when it’s dry. If we don’t nourish our faith through our prayers and thanksgiving, our faith will wilt like a garden without rain. Life is always going to be full of rain and storms. When rains come into your life, open your heart and let God’s grace restore your soul and shower you with blessings.

“Into each life some rain must fall.” — Henry Wadsworth Longfellow