The First Rain of Spring

I have been waiting all day for the rain to start.  It should have been here much earlier according to the forecast.  Just as the first few drops began to fall I discovered to my delight that this would be the first rain of Spring.

Not that Spring didn't officially arrive on March 21st, but here in the south the cool winter air has lingered longer than it should.  We have had rain, plenty of it actually, but it was winter rain, chilly, wet and without any smell.  You can smell a Spring rain; it smells green and wet and earthy.  Summer rain smells parched and hot and thirsty and in the south it often seems just a few degrees away from boiling water.

This is a new Spring for me.  It is the first one without my brother, Thom.  In April I will remember how that last year we were learning he had advanced stage four cancer.  And through May, June until July 23rd I will remember the heart wrenching and bittersweet weeks we spent together; the three of us, me, Thom & Kat, as we prepared for the unpreparable and depended heavily upon The Lord for strength and grace and the will to do well and carry on.

Thom has been in heaven eight months now; eight months cancer free and living large.  Kat & I carry on.  Today's rain was special.  Like the first few yellow gallons of rain water from the down spout cleared the pollen from my roof; the first rain of Spring washes away the winter from my soul and prepares me for the Spring that will surely come with warmth and blossoms and new growth.  All nature leading by example that it is possible and right and time to do well and carry on.