Dappled Sunshine!

The past six weeks have been anxious, frustrating and emotionally draining for all those people effected by the incredible floods, cyclones, more floods, and fires, across this nation.  No State has been spared.   Men, women and children have had their lives changed in a blink of an eye.   The “clean-up” from the massive floods in many places cannot even begin until the floodwaters recede and this could be anything up to two months.  (Which of course then brings us into autumn/winter and the rains that are part of those seasons).  All this following more than 12 years of drought.  This is a harsh and unforgiving land, and it’s people are hard and firm, resilient and determined.   They have to be.

And there’s a saying about women, which I have taken as the title of a small booklet, “We hold up half the sky”.  Because women do.   It’s part of our nature and nurturing.  Women have to be strong and willing to step outside their own comfort zones in order to  comfort and encourage and support their menfolk and especially their children to see the positive things in life especially in times of stress and distress.

My lovely friend Jan in WA reminded me of the joy of small things the other day - in her blog.   Jan writes from the heart and her blog touches upon things that effect and impact on many women and their lives.    I would encourage you to have a look at her blog http://jan-outsidethelines.blogspot.com/

I woke up this morning to the sound of birds singing, quite distinct from the sounds of children laughing and talking as they were unloaded from their Mum’s cars in readiness to walk along the local schoolground.  The birdsongs were a declaration that they were filled with joy.  At the same time, the early morning sunshine’s rays gently eased their way into the room, and I could see the dappled sunshine and shadows through the leafy green trees.

Dappled sunshine has a way of reminding us that each and every day we have a bit of sunshine and shadow.   It creates a balance in our environment as well as how we feel about ourselves and our lives during that day.   I think it also reminds us that there can be beauty in the smallest of things and that beauty reinforces our positive feelings.   We need to look at the small things of life that bring us joy - not loud or expensive things, but just the tiniest measure of loveliness that takes our breath away.

For we are a part of this great land.   And when it treats us well and gives us from its fruits and benefits we can become a little blase.  When it responds to weather patterns that have inflicted themselves over the past couple of months bringing destruction and heartache, we can quite easily turn out backs and become angry and treat it with scorn.   But isn’t this in turn showing scorn towards ourselves.  If we are proud Australians, and we profess to be, then learning or trying to understand this land and accepting its good and bad points equally, surely that shows and proves to us that we can deal with the good and bad things within our own personalities and lives and come through accepting the new positive things that await us.

We need to see life through the joy of small things, as Jan reminded me.  And in doing so, when the big things of life present positive joys, we’ll be ready and able to grasp the blessings with open hands and hearts.