Dear Reader:

Yesterday morning we had an unexpected thunder shower that hit in the wee pre-dawn hours. The lightning and thunder woke me up. I was doubly surprised since it had not even been forecast. I vaguely remember smiling to myself, as I turned over in my sleep, knowing I wouldn’t need to water  and how happy the plants must be with this precious, unexpected, gift from God.

The pouring out of love God showers us all with…is a metaphor for the rain that falls on nature….both are acts of love.

I feel sure when the rain begins falling the plants feel the love of God, their Creator in the refreshing and replenishing raindrops. (*They would need it…it got up in the high nineties yesterday (with the heat thermometer in the 100’s)…hot and sticky!)

Doesn’t God prepare us, too, for challenging “hot times”  with unexpected examples of His love for us? His love is like armor…it wraps around us and protects us from the difficult challenges that lay ahead of us… unexpectedly. (at least to us)

It is obvious to see the results of a garden that is going through a drought…the leaves start withering, turning yellow and then brown. Many stems simply fall before a bloom has time to finish forming. But then if the rains do come…the garden is a luscious green, and the blooms begin popping out all over…a breathtaking Garden of Eden effect. Rain and sunshine must always be in balance for nature to survive and succeed.

Have you ever thought how much love (percentage-wise) you have received in your life…and has it been enough? Don’t we question the amount of love we give and receive in different stages of our lives?

One of the most down-to-earth, touching, and powerful lines in the movie The Divine Secrets of the Ya Ya Sisterhood takes place between the character (SiddaLee Walker) Sandra Bullock and her father, Shep (played by James Garner.)

After being “kidnapped” by her mothers’ friends (The Ya Ya sisters) and brought back home to Louisiana…her father comes to see her.

She adores him, yet feels sorry for everything he has had to endure from her mother who married him on a rebound after her first love was killed in WWII. (* Sidda remembers over-hearing (from the Ya Ya’s) that her poor daddy knew going into the marriage that his wife wasn’t over Jack’s death…but Shep thought he had enough love for the both of them.)

After hugging each other tightly…Sidda looks deep into her father’s eyes and asks him “Did you get loved enough, daddy?” There is a long pause before he stares back in her eyes and honestly responds ” What’s enough?”

Good question…Do we ever feel like we have been loved enough… upon reflection of our life here on earth? Most love is temporal….friends, parents, relatives, family, pets, spouses…come and go.

I think the day we finally fully understand that it is only God’s love for us that withstands the length of time…and the only love we can count on for every single breath of time we spend here…is the “a-ha” day we know we have been loved enough. God’s love is the strongest force on earth. We just have to know how to accept it.

After the rain I went out and sat on my new bench…I looked up at the magnolia tree and saw the most beautiful bloom hanging down… as if smiling at me.

When enough love (rain) is given, don’t we all bloom and blossom …showing the world the best we can be?

So until tomorrow…

Let us remember to be grateful for all the love we receive and be generous in all the love we give…like sunshine and rain…it is the balance of blessings that provides all the love we need. 

I definitely got more than my share of blessings yesterday from Gin-g, Jo, and Honey. Honey sent a package (that when opened) was a ‘bluebird of happiness AND healing” necklace…I told Honey I would be wearing it (for good luck) next week at my physical.

Gin-g sent a wonderful patriotic ‘Thinking of You’ card that will be perfect to put out on display for the Fourth of July! (*And we have all been thinking of you Gin-g ….so glad your ordeal is closing in to the finish line. You look terrific!)

Jo sent an adorable friendship/encouragement card for all of us to remember....”Don’t hide your light…let it shine on others instead.” You do this, Jo,  and so many more of you readers and friends….Thank you from the bottom of my heart.” It makes me so happy to feel so loved.

***Just got this upsetting text from Brooke earlier this morning. Her husband, Ted, fell and broke his hip. They have been up in the mountains (Saluda) at their mountain cabin visiting with some family of Brooke’s….not sure when all this happened.

Ted is now in the Hendersonville Hospital and will have surgery tomorrow to mend his hip. We definitely need lots of prayers for this situation. Thank you ahead of time for them….I know Brooke appreciates all the uplifting she can get.   Thank you!!!!