You know and I, we walk down this road together through every season. Not even inclement weather stops us, because we are strong. We are united. We hold one another's hearts and lift them if they fear they might flail or fall.

Both flailing and falling are temporary, like tears that roll down our faces and drip like rain down our window panes. After a while, both tears and rain come to an end. But we, we are STILL HERE!

My friends, THAT is why I celebrate YOU- and why we celebrate one another. We have lived through tornadoes, hurricanes and thunder storms- only to then have a fearless tsunami ferociously tear down the house we thought we'd built so strong and impenetrable. But starting over is all we've ever known. That's what survivors do.

Oh, yes! WE ARE SURVIVORS!

There are winters that never seem to want to end, but eventually springtime cannot be held at bay. Even as the last of snow continues to melt, the snowdrops, crocuses and daffodils announce their presence- and nothing can stop them from doing all they know how to do...bloom.

I love that.

I adore the notion that despite all we've been through, our souls still know how to grow thorough snow. We simply need to remember that seasons are just that; they are temporary collections of months, weeks and days that bring with them challenges. Our souls are like the sun; always there, sometimes shining, sometimes hidden behind thick storm clouds.

But our souls are STILL there! These beautiful souls we all were inherently created with are an intrinsic part of our being. Know that we are not talking just ordinary souls! Because we have endured more harsh, merciless seasons than a person living into their second centennial, our souls have been sandpapered. Like a piece of furniture, we were at first sanded smooth, yet now have our own unique set of scars, chips and scratches that give us character...and the wisdom that comes along with it! We are the tables upon which hands were held while dinnertime prayers were said. We are the rocking chairs upon which mammas sat to nurse their babies. We have served dutifully in so many capacities, but still, some might only see us as firewood. You might think that is not okay, but here's the thing; we all are capable of serving numerous purposes. While we cannot control what others see as our purpose, ultimately WE reserve the right to decide in what capacity we can best function! Sure, we were kicked around and treated like firewood, but I'm here to tell you, you are anything but!

We were all built with our own internal toolboxes, complete with wood glue, nails, hammers and clamps. How easily we forget that we have within us what we need to not only survive, but also make a difference! We can BE the DIFFERENCE in understanding that our own pain is lessened when we reach out to help others.

This very thought inspired me to open a Facebook page;
https://www.facebook.com/iamdanaandrews/.

It is a place where our 1,200 members support one another. Why? Because caring is free and no one should ever cry alone. Seasons come and seasons go, but you will never find any of us crying alone!

Oh, and by the way, this morning I decorated my own soul and picked some beautiful daffodils...