Another sign of spring: there is a window of sunlight shining into our kitchen in the early mornings. During the winter the yawning sun just can’t stretch its beams around to this spot. Now it plays peek a boo for five minutes. In August it will linger long enough for a cup of tea.
The light that brightens the tulips and roses also illumines the bookshelf in the hallway. Isn’t it odd how light can both lighten and lift our spirits?
William Cowper, my father’s favorite poet,
struggled with depression and wrote about the effect of light.
Sometimes a light surprises the Christian while he sings;
It is the Lord, who rises with healing in His wings:
When comforts are declining, He grants the soul again
A season of clear shining, to cheer it after rain.
(Click link for full lyrics)
~ ~ ~
God Moves in a Mysterious Way, another Cowper hymn,
was originally titled Light Shining Out of Darkness.
What is lightening your heart today?
A Living Pencil 
Sunlight bathes our living room in the late afternoons — I have so enjoyed being off this week so that I am home to enjoy the comforts of home, the sunlight being one of them. I spend my days in an internal classroom that has one door and no windows — and way too much flourescent light — sunlight restores me and I seek it out whenever possible.
What an uplifting rendering of the sources of joy in your life this week: beautiful Easter roses illuminated by new sunshine and old words.Off to try and capture some rays…..
Kids sleeping in on Spring Break, so the house is quiet.In about an hour, I will be visiting with my dad over coffee – our weekly one-on-one visit when he stops by on the way to the grocery store.Deciding to give up on a book that is boring me – and not feeling guilty!Sunny days – it was in the 60s yesterday!And – you are lightening my heart today. :)Carrie
today is dad’s 77th b-day…his 4th decade of significantly reducing heart capacity and function… but if you’d told me that he’s be around for #77, i’d never have believed it. he’s a miracle in a very true sense of the word… and celebrating him on this sunny spring morning brightens and lightens my day!
I have to work at getting light in my apartment. Usually by the time I get home in the late afternoon, most of it’s gone. I have an Ott lamp that sits behind my sofa where I sit a lot. That’s one of those lamps that imitates natural sunlight. When I was living with my friend, Julie, she said it always startled her to see “sunlight” coming from under my bedroom door when she walked past! It’s also supposed to help with SAD, Seasonal Affective Disorder, people who get depressed when there’s not much sunlight. I figure it can’t hurt, right?I also love my Easter lily–the last flower opened yesterday and I Iove its fragrance. It seems like at this season of life, I have to work harder to find light, both physically and figuratively speaking. Yesterday I bought some heavy cream to put in my tea as a treat. Oh, the memories, Carol….
lightening my heart – pulsing life, the grace of God, being able to love and to be loved… no matter my age, form, and bank balance