Time to Bloom

It's that time of year, to forge ahead and bloom. I marvel at the nature around me, what was dead now reborn. The leaves now wave in the breeze, petals unfurl and pop with color. I love this season of growth in nature and in self.

We have had much rain this month and humidity high enough to frizz my hair. My body aches with arthritis and fibromyalgia, yet I still praise God every morning for a new day. My heart expands in love and acceptance at this new season of my life, I am going to embrace it.

The key words are "going to" for I have not been a happy camper about the pains of aging. I groan, complain and whine a lot. The truth in the matter, I cannot bloom if I do not open myself to this stage of my life. I wish to accept, to grow in grace.

There is not much gracefulness in my hobbling around on hips that need a good can of oil. Tin man! Where are you? However, I laugh, make jokes and smile. My favorite refrain is "I'm old you know? " in Old Testament time, biblically speaking, I am a babe.

God worked with old people in those days. Most of the people I read about were having children at my age. At ninety years young, they were ripening with age, unfurling their petals and blooming. It takes us awhile even today to mature in ways that are fruitful. I want to be fruitful, maybe even a little fruity at this stage.

So Lord, rain on me, bring it on! I am ready to ripen and to live. Anyone else with me?

Teresa Gale