"Fairest of the months!
Ripe summer's queen
The hey-day of the year
With robes that gleam with sunny sheen
Sweet August doth appear."
- R. Combe Miller

Welcome to the August newsletter. Even when we have too many hot August nights I feel as though summer is way too short. William Shakespeare said it best, "Summer's lease hath all too short a date". Enjoy these days God has blessed upon us.

SUMMER RAIN

"Like a welcome summer rain, humor may suddenly cleanse and cool the earth, the air and you."
Langston Hughes

I have always believed that just as God gives us rain, He gives us a sense of humor. However, I admit to believing getting caught in a downpour while trying to get in the house with armloads of groceries was strictly an event to satisfy God's sense of humor. But as you dry off, you see that it's just water and when you tell someone about it you see the humor in it.

I came across the line above, written by Langston Hughes and saw it in a different light for the first time since I first read it many years ago. A recent incident in my life made me replace the words, "summer rain" and "humor" with "gifts" and "God's love" in that line.

I was having a particularly bad day, physically, and there were severe thunderstorm warnings on TV but we were out of groceries and that is my job in this household. My first thought was that my metal cane could make a good lightning rod so thunderstorms are not my idea of fun. However, I felt there was enough time to get the job done before the rain came so I ignored my pains and headed out to the store.

On the way home, the storm was getting near but I thought I would get in the house before the rain. Technically, I made it home before the storm because I shut off the car before the first drops of rain came down. But, as soon as my feet hit the ground there was an instant monsoon rain coming down.

By the time I made my way up the ramp I was already soaked to the skin and there were still more groceries to bring in. As I started back to the car there were two squirrels at my feet asking for peanuts.

Those that know me know that my yard is teeming with animals and they know I'm a soft touch for such treats. However, the rain was aggravating me and I just wanted to finish. I said to them, "can't it wait?" and apparently the answer was "no".

They followed me to the garage where I keep bird feed and treats for the animals. I reached into the container and threw a few handfuls of peanuts to the ground and went back to the car to bring in the rest of the groceries.

It took three more trips to the car to finish and by now I was really soaked. However, as soon as I set the last bag down in the kitchen, I looked out of the window and the rain had stopped and the sun was coming back out.

I stood for a moment feeling perplexed and confused. The old "me" would have been cussin' at anybody or anything within earshot with my spirit broken. But instead, I stood there frustrated but laughing.

A merry heart doeth good [like] a medicine: but a broken spirit drieth the bones.
Proverbs 17:22

After putting things away, I went back to the yard and filled the bird feeders and put some more treats out for the squirrels, who had brought their friends around by now. They seemed to be laughing at me, standing there still very wet. I may have been a funny sight but it had been a wonderfully classic summer rain and the fresh, cool air it brought in its wake was amazing and had that smell you wish you could bottle.

God's gifts and love truly touched me that day as I felt as cleansed and refreshed as the earth and animals around me. I left the birds and animals to their business and headed back in to change clothes and get dry but I prayed to keep that fresh, cleansed feeling in my heart. God's love and gifts are everywhere and can renew the spirit when we have the foresight to recognize it even when we are soaked to the skin.

Therefore with joy shall ye draw water out of the wells of salvation.
Isaiah 12:3