...and many thanks

May lays over the countryside like a blessing. Standing on the lawn of our farm home, I gaze at the scene around me, awed. The country rolls out its black fields into the distance. Each one is neatly groomed, square with a border of bright, clear green. The road ditches, only a short time ago strewn with drifts of snow, are smoothly covered with new grass. The creek wanders through it all, with white clouds of plum blossoms clustered along its willow-lined banks. Here and there, a pillar of dust shows where a tractor is at work. Its sound is one of contentment at being allowed to go about its work at last. The farmsteads have a model-like look, shimmering in the gentle warmth. Each one seems just as it should be, with nothing needed. The silos stand sentry, sturdy and round with the afternoon sun glinting on the caps. The buildings even glow a little, tidy and trim. The trees have rounded out their spare frames with puffs of tender green leaves, separate yet, not a mass of dark green. These frame the homes, making each look like a haven of peace. Looking toward town, it, too, seems touched with grace. The little old-fashioned water tower, red-topped, stands as it always has, above the houses and trees. A classic spire stands serene above the small church. The elevator complex dominates all the buildings in town. It even seems different today, shining silver instead of its usual dull gray. Standing solidly at the edge of town is the school with its battery of baseball field lights behind. The trees are in young leaf, with yellows and reds among the new green. As I turn toward home, the perfection persists at closer view. The grass is fresh and fragrant, dotted with violets of lavender, pink and white. Their five-petal flowers are held up confidently to me. And dandelions – how pretty with their sun-shaped flowers and little sword-leaves defending them stiffly. Tulips hold their flaming heads aloft closer to the house, unbelievable in the color they show. Up close, the fruit trees have pink and white buds, and new growth tips the pines with lighter green. The sounds, too, are reassuring that all is as it should be. The brown thrasher tells us that he is, indeed, a pretty bird, and the wren pours out her rippling song. A meadow lark speaks of spring, and the red-winged blackbirds are joyful. The dull bass of tractors in the background support these soprano sounds, making a lovely chorus. The smells, too, are heavenly. Freshly-cut grass and tilled fields are delightful as every spring, with now and then a whiff of plum blossom. Lilacs are opening and adding their fragrance to the potpourri. I try to take it all in and store it away for later enjoyment. Never mind that only yesterday the wind was so strong I could hardly open the door, and it may be tomorrow, too. Never mind that in a few days, the clean black fields will be showing a cover of weed growth. Never mind that many of the farmsteads that look so pretty from here, actually stand empty and falling into disrepair. Don’t think of the silent, empty school building or the elevator that isn’t as busy as it used to be, or the little church that is having trouble finding enough Sunday School teachers. Forget that the interest rate at the bank is still very high, and the cattle market is down. Everything is in a state of grace today – a day of calm and beauty. Today is a gift to us. It is a reminder that God is still in His rightful place and, as a favorite old minister used to say, “Don’t you forget it!” I am given renewed faith in the future and strength to carry on my part in the scheme of things. Thank you, God, for the blessing of May.