Rainy Days and Coffee

As I sit and look out the window at the rain, I am reminded of something my father once told me. He was an avid outdoorsman and loved to be outside enjoying a nice day, so it always struck me as odd that he also liked to sit inside and watch the rain. Most of the time, he was not interested in just sitting anywhere and especially not indoors. But he told me that it was very satisfying to him to sit in his home, warm and dry, as he watched the rain falling. It served as a good reminder to be thankful for the roof over his head and the warmth of his home. And add in the ability to enjoy a hot cup of coffee during a good downpour and he couldn’t ask for more out of his life.

It is wisdom like Dad’s that reminds me that I have so much to be thankful for. In Dad’s life, a warm, dry home was not always the case. He grew up very poor and spent several years living out in the elements during World War II. He understood from his first-hand experience that not everyone is blessed with a heated home or even a home. And thanks to his lifetime of hard work, I never knew the feeling of being in need of anything. But he still knew that I needed to learn a lesson about appreciating what I was blessed to have. And I think of that second-hand lesson and Dad each time I hear the rain tapping on my roof.

What it took me some time to understand is that Dad was teaching me a much greater lesson, one that applied to my entire life. We all have stormy periods in our lives. We all face challenges, sadness, and pain that we must overcome. These are the times we should remember on the sunny days of our lives. It is those difficult days that should remind us to be ever so thankful for the good days. And on those good days, we should be mindful of those who might be weathering a personal storm. Not only did Dad teach me to be thankful for what I have been gifted in my life but also to be understanding and supportive of those who might be facing a challenge. Even on the days of rain in my life, there is certainly someone who is facing a greater storm somewhere who could benefit from a helping hand, a smile or just a kind word or two.

So I always try to smile at the rainy days and enjoy a warm cup of coffee to honor Dad. And on my good days and my bad days, I also try to remember his lesson to See The Good in everything that we have in our lives, the amazing family, the great friends and the opportunity to make the most of each day that we have been given.