April showers bring May flowers was a phrase that I often heard and said when I was a young child. I can remember being on the playground in April and all of a sudden, out of no where the rain would begin to fall. My teacher would tell us that the rain had to come in April, so that the pretty flowers could bloom in May. We would scurry inside with sad faces, wishing with all of hearts that the rain would go away. I remember this like it was yesterday.

And such is life. Rain comes out of no where and ruins our plans. Rain is not always torrential. Sometimes it comes in a sprinkle, slow and steady, or a few drops for a little while. During this season we are thankful for the rain because it clears the pollen, so that we can breathe better. In the spiritual world when the rain comes, its clearing away negative actions, thoughts, people and emotions and we should be thankful to God!

The rain comes…and then the flowers bloom. This is the order. If it were not for the rain, we could not see the beautiful flowers bloom. Such a simple thought but so easy for us to forget.

I don’t know how much rain you have experienced in your life last year, last month, last week, yesterday or today. But I do know that it does not come to stay. I also know that rain in your life helps to strengthen you spiritually, just as it does for natural flowers. So during this month, make a promise not to dwell on the past, but to look at the blooming flowers in your life. If you and your family are healthy…that’s a flower. If you have food and shelter…that’s a flower. If you have a balanced mind…that’s a flower. If you have breath in your body…that’s a flower!

Remember the words of my teacher, April showers bring May flowers. Until next month, stop and smell YOUR flowers! Blessings to you!

-Dama Riles