Thunderstorms

The thunder groans outside and rolls across the valley, echoing off the mountain walls and getting caught up in it's own crossfire.

I have always loved thunderstorms.

Mom and Dad could always be found sitting on the porch watching the storm, and one by one each of us kids would join them. We would sit on the steps and watch in awe.

My romantic-self tingles when a thunderstorm approaches. The anticipation of the rain fall is like waiting for that ever so wonderful first kiss.

But today this Thunderstorm is appropriate, and not for any of the reasons stated above.

The crashing in the sky makes me feel humble and small. Humble. A perfect Sunday atmosphere.

I have been thinking about storms a lot lately- and how they effect different people. I am a lifeguard and when a lightning storm gets close we have to kick out the swimmers. I don't despise storms, but it makes lifeguard/making money hard. But then I look around my surroundings and see the farmers and how they praise the sky when the rain finally falls.

Life is like that.

We are all given the same view, but the way we perceive them will change our attitudes and the outcome.

I read this this afternoon:

How To Dance In The Rain

It was a busy morning, about 8:30, when an elderly gentleman in his 80's, arrived to have stitches removed from his thumb. He said he was in a hurry as he had an appointment at 9:00 am. I took his vital signs and had him take a seat, knowing it would be over an hour before someone would be able to see him. I saw him looking at his watch and decided, since I was not busy with another patient, I would evaluate his wound. On exam, it was well healed, so I talked to one of the doctors, got the needed supplies to remove his sutures and redress his wound. While taking care of his wound, I asked him if he had another doctor's appointment that morning, as he was in such a hurry. The gentleman told me, no, that he needed to go to the nursing home to eat breakfast with his wife. I inquired as to her health. He told me that she had been there for a while and that she was a victim of Alzheimer's Disease. As we talked, I asked if she would be upset if he was a bit late He replied that she no longer knew who he was, that she had not recognized him in five years now. I was surprised, and asked him, 'And you still go every morning, even though she doesn't know who you are?' He smiled as he patted my hand and said, 'She doesn't know me, but I still know who she is.' I had to hold back tears as he left, I had goose bumps on my arm, and thought, 'That is the kind of love I want in my life.' True love is neither physical, nor romantic. True love is an acceptance of all that is, has been, will be, and will not be. With all the jokes and fun that are in the world, sometimes there is something that comes along that has an important message. I hope this is one of those for you. The happiest people don't necessarily have the best of everything; they just make the best of everything they have. 'Life isn't about how to survive the storm, but how to dance in the rain.'

by David Stone Remember who you are. Remember who is behind you. Remember that even in the darkest of storms there is hope.  After all, sometimes the storms we go through are helping bless another person's life. Happy Sunday