By Dawn Onley

This spring has been one of the rainiest on record.

I’ll admit, for several weeks now, I’ve been complaining about the constant rain and the cool, damp temperatures, even as my grass grows a beautiful shade of lush green, the roses on my rosebush spring up and color my yard a regal red and a cardinal and bluebird flutter about in my daily view, taking in the delicious aroma and the refreshing breeze of the dewy morning.

Rain is a beautiful thing, even when it occurs nearly every day for weeks. Even when I complain and still need reminding. Rain as a physical substance enables plants and crops to flourish, sure, but it is also the primary source of fresh water for most of the world. Rain makes the earth beautiful. Without it, there would be no life.

For me, rain is a metaphor for hard times and pain in my life. The Bible says rain is sent on the just and the unjust.

Looking back, most of my breakthroughs have come as a result of “rainy” days. It was the times when everything was going wrong that I listened closely to my heart and found what felt right. In a weird way, rain has given me peace and understanding. The deep reflection caused by rain has revealed there are things that I can change and there are things that are out of my hands. For the latter, rain is helping me to let go and to let God.

The temptation may be to pray for the rain to stop. However, as poet Henry Wadsworth Longfellow, said: “The best thing one can do when it’s raining is to let it rain.”

Rain teaches us lessons that we can get no other way. If it weren’t for the rain, we’d have no real appreciation for sunny days. When you have gone through enough rainy days, you start to see the sun in a whole different light. You appreciate things more.

Rain brings growth — physically, mentally and emotionally.

Even though I still complain when it rains without ceasing, I’m learning to embrace the beauty of the rain, and everything that comes with it. For me, that means the opportunity to bond with family, to rest, to read, to write, to think and to plan.

Rain cleanses. It also brings focus and clarity. It helps us to remember what’s really important, and to be thankful for it all.