Raindrops and Teardrops

Today I had the honor of officiating at the funeral of one of the sweetest ladies I have ever known.  Nan, as she was affectionately called, touched my heart in more ways than one.  She welcomed me into her home and we sat at her dining room table with a cup of tea and had an hours long conversation that flowed so easily you would never guess that this was the first time we had met.  She was loving, caring, giving, creative, funny, and yet would tell you just like it is.  This woman struggled with a terrible disease over the past four years and yet she handled her situation with incredible grace, strength, and dignity.  Perseverance, fortitude, compassion - other words that come to mind when I think of this woman.  So today, post funeral service, as I sit here in my study trying to determine what to do next on my priority list, I just can't seem to make myself move on to quickly.  This time as with so many others - I need to let myself grieve.  I tell loved ones not to cheat themselves out of that process and to give it time.  So this afternoon while listening to the raindrops outside my window I let the teardrops flow and know that they will bring healing.  Thank you Lord for raindrops and teardrops - one is refreshing to the earth, the other refreshing to my soul.