The rain came today
cold and wet
drenching the azaleas.
Yesterday
the sun shone brilliantly
on Easter.
The butterflies and the bees
hovered amidst the flowers
for hours on end.
It is a quiet day
a day for sowing seeds
deep within our hearts.
We begin again
washed clean
like the rain, that cleanses the earth.
Like shimmering dew drops
we sparkle and shine
in the light of the Risen Lord.
Everywhere, there are petals
upon the ground, shook free
from branches, swaying in the wind.
I celebrate this Easter Monday
collect petals of love
that bloom in heaven above.
The tree branches creak and groan.
A storm has come upon us
this day.
There will always be storms
times of upheaval
times of stress and strain.
The seeds will bloom, nonetheless.
The seedlings will rise up
above the adversity.
Within, there is light
the light shines
endlessly.
Petals of love spread out
across the earth, as if
fields of flowers, bloomed forevermore.
And so, they do.
God’s grace is showered in every nook and crevice.
We are set free;
no longer captive to branches that sway in the wind.
Easter has come and we are reborn.
A river of love flows deep in our souls.
The world may creak and groan;
we follow the flow of the river, from now until eternity.
I wrote this poem yesterday on Easter Monday. It was a cold and rainy day. I wrote the poem in the early evening, as the wet and soggy day turned into a wet and soggy night! After a lovely Easter Sunday with warm sunshine and not a cloud in sight, Monday seemed a bit dreary. It got me thinking about quite a number of things.
Easter is not about bunnies, fair weather, or flowers and cloudless skies. Easter is about our Risen Lord and the empty tomb. It is about eternal life and the fact that Jesus died on the cross to save us from our sins. And it is about living our faith every day of the year. We are Easter people with a message to share.
In life, there is sunshine and shadows. There are good times and hard times. Through it all, we live out our Easter faith one day at a time.
Very soon, my Clematis flowers will spin upon their vines. We sometimes feel like we are spinning when the problems of life weigh us down.
The Clematis flowers seem so delicate when the wind blows, and they shudder ever so gently. We feel like that too, when the winds of life blow heavy and seem to come from every direction.
My Clematis flowers cling to the vine like beautiful stars in a constellation. Each star is unique, a masterpiece that ‘shines’ in a singular way. Together, the composition of ‘stars’ is extraordinary.
We each carry our own light into the world, the light of Christ, placed within our souls. In all the world, there is no greater light than the light God has given us in Christ Jesus.
We are blessed with so many things, including lovely spring days and sun-lit celebrations. We are also blessed with the rains that come in the springtime to nurture the earth and provide for the growing season.
Easter Monday marks the first day of the rest of the year…we carry the celebration of new life in Christ with us each and every day. Rain or shine, we carry this gift with us always!
Mathew 28:6: “He is no longer there. He has risen, just as He said…”
Hi Linda,
Thanks for sharing your poem, which I moved into so nicely. LOVELY.
Relating to your post….. My day yesterday (after Easter) was SNOW. Bitter cold moved in late Easter evening and yesterday we had enough snow to blanket our area in white. Not to worry….in a couple of days we will be 65+ degrees. That’s southern Michigan. Always wait, be patient, the weather will change. I love the pictures you included. It’s like taking a little trip with you.
God bless!
We have had some cold temperatures here in Virginia as well. My sister had snow yesterday in West Virginia, and we have had icy conditions and snow in parts of Virginia. The weather does fluctuate so much this time of year! I wish you blessings also…whether it is raining, or snowing, or the sun is shining! 🙂
One day at a time. Bless you for this interlude.
Wishing you blessings also! One day is enough. With God’s help, miracles unfold on any given day, but looking too far ahead can be problematic. 🙂
I love the title “River of Life” Linda. Your reference as entering the river of love is so pertinent.
Rivers are not safe but they are life. They have gentle flows, rapids, rocks, log jambs, back eddies, sharp corners dashing agaist the cliffs and turbined chutes especially dangerous during and after the storms. Our guide makes all the difference.
My wife and I used a guide for white water rafting a river where 7 people had drowned that year…all died without a guide.
We do need a guide; the jagged places would be too treacherous without God. The storms of life would surely overtake us without His strong arm. How blessed we are that His river of love flows within us to give us strength and direction. Should we find ourselves completely alone without a paddle, He is there in our midst. Praise God! His blessings are without number, His mercy without end.
Lovely verse, Linda. Hoping your Easter was a delight! 🌞
Thank you! Easter was wonderful! I hope you had a very nice Easter as well. 🙂
Thank you, Linda! Your bring the shine shine even on a cloudy day. Hugs!
Hugs back to you!!! The sunshiny days are before us; spring will become summer. I love summer, always full of possibility!
A lovely poem to brighten the end of my day. Thank you!
I am glad if it brightened your day! We are moving into springtime…softer breezes, longer days coming. 🙂
I’m loving forward to them!
Me too! 🙂
Oops. I meant “looking.” 🙂
🙂 🙂 🙂
Such a delightful poem, and your turn of phrase is exquisite …
here is a fitting tribute to your Mother and Easter
https://fleurmach.com/2016/06/05/rainer-maria-rilke-les-roses-1926/
So beautiful! I love roses! They are perhaps, my favorite flower. There is nothing so exquisite as a rose, and I have often saved the petals. I have saved a single rose from my mother’s gravesite.
auw how sweet, thought you’d appreciate that incredible poem!
Thank you so very much for sharing it! 🙂
A powerful poetic Easter Monday reflection Linda! Thank you for sharing it. The line that spoke to me most was “God’s grace is showered in every nook and crevice.”
God is everywhere! Sometimes, we are looking for Him in the mountain-top experiences, and He is there. He is also there in the quiet places. Wherever we look, we see His touch, His outpouring of love, His unfailing mercy.
I couldn’t agree more Linda!
🙂 🙂 🙂
Today, the workday was a jarring fall back to earth after my gentle Easter. Still, looking at your beautiful pictures of the river, I realised something: I can choose to see beauty. I saw beauty in that river. Not everyone might, though. If someone has had an unpleasant experience in a river, no matter how stunning it may look, a shadow may always live in the minds and hearts. To still see beyond the pain and the dark, it is often an act of will. When I realised that, I decided to look back upon my exhausting workday with different eyes. However much I wish I had a different sort of day, it was a day when I did good work. Even if it tired me out, I put my heart and soul into it. I dealt with a number of people today and even if my efforts did little for them, I can always live in the hope that at least I tried.
So, looking back upon today, in this twilight hour, I can see that God doesn’t always give us picture perfect days. Some days, you just need to go out there and paint beauty into the day – and even if it doesn’t exactly feel that way, we have to trust that God knows what to do with our efforts. As you put it so touchingly, In life, there is sunshine and shadows. There are good times and hard times. Through it all, we live out our Easter faith one day at a time.
I love what you wrote about ‘painting beauty into our days.’ This is so true. On the hard days, we need to use that paintbrush the most! And you are right about God knowing what to do with our efforts. We see a blurred painting; He sees the masterpiece.
We are, indeed, Easter people. thanks for the beautiful poem and the pictures.
You are welcome! Wishing you Easter blessings!
Beautiful poem and beautiful photos, Linda. Hope you had a lovely Easter weekend x
Thank you! I hope you had a nice Easter also. 🙂
That’s one of the nicest Easter poems I’ve ever read, Linda! You have a way with words for sure. Easter Monday can be a hard day, now that the celebrations and services are over, and the family has gone back home. But you’re right, if we keep the meaning of Easter in our hearts, then that colors the way we live every single day after Easter. The message of Easter is for everyone, all the time, and that is so comforting to know!
Yes! We carry Easter in our hearts at all times…every day of the year! 🙂
Beautiful poem, Linda. I love rivers as a metaphor and they work well as a symbol for navigating life. Thanks for sharing your lovely words and thoughts. <3
Thank you! There is a cycle to life; many rivers flow to the sea. The rains come and the rivers flow; the clouds draw up the moisture from the sea. (Job 36:27-33) We do journey through life as if a strong current pulled us along. I believe that current is God Himself, and we must follow where He leads us. The river holds dangers, and we must cling to God for His help and aid. The river is also very beautiful, full of leaping fish and water that sparkles endlessly in the sun. If we look at life as a grand adventure with God at the helm, the river is wondrous indeed!
Just lovely, Linda. What a beautiful Easter poem.
Thank you! 🙂 This month of April is really slipping by so quickly. It is hard to believe that Sunday will be the first of May!
Lovely post and photos, Linda!
It’s been a busy poetry month–I can’t believe it’s almost May! We still have alternately warm and cold days, but that’s the way spring is. 😊
The weather is all over the place this time of year! I am ready for those lovely May flowers!
🌺🌸🌼🌻
🙂 🙂 🙂
Even in times of upheaval, stress and strain, seeds of faith, perseverance, and even joy can bloom. The seedlings do indeed rise up above the adversity. Thank you for your poem of hope and encouragement, Linda!
Yes! The seedlings are amazing! 🙂