Far Beneath the Bitter Snow

After cold, sleet, and freezing rain it is a joy to wake up to bright sunny skies and warmer temperatures. It has not been a terrible winter in New England terms, but it has been cold and filled with more ice than snow. These odd winters are more difficult to deal with than those filled with several feet of snow.

Since we are more than a month beyond the shortest day of the year, each day brings us more daylight hours which makes winter more tolerable. Longer days and sunshine give us hope for what will come in the next several weeks. Although we will inevitably get more snow before all is said and done, the warmer days will prevent it from remaining for an extended period of time.

Each milestone lifts the burden of winter a bit more. In just over four weeks we will turn the clocks ahead for daylight savings time making the weight on our shoulders feel a bit lighter. Seven days after this the first day of spring arrives making our soul feel brighter and hopeful for what is to come. Then Easter arrives in April, which for many of us in New England signals the end of winter.

Even as we sit with several weeks of winter ahead, these bright, sunny days allow us to dream of what will eventually come our way. The return of Hummingbirds around Mother's Day who will entertain us as they dance gracefully through the air.  Visions of once again planting flower beds and vegetable gardens, and the joy of having our hands in the earth. This simple act freeing our mind and soul to go places we have not been in so many months. 

As we await spring's arrival, the increasing warmth of the sun will allow us to dream of all we have been waiting for. These thoughts bring to mind the words to a favorite song from the movie, The Rose. May these words bring us some peace as we wade through the last several weeks of winter.

"When the night has been too lonely

And the road has been too long

And you think that love is only

For the lucky and the strong

Just remember in the winter

Far beneath the bitter snow

Lies the seed that with the sun's love

In the spring becomes the rose"

from The Rose ~ written by Amanda McBroom