renewal

April Rain Song ~ A Poem by Langston Hughes

by

Let the Rain Kiss You: Finding Calm and Renewal

Langston Hughes invites us to do more than endure the rain — he teaches us to love it, to let it soothe and renew the spirit.

April Rain Song

Langston Hughes

Let the rain kiss you
Let the rain beat upon your head with silver liquid drops
Let the rain sing you a lullaby
The rain makes still pools on the sidewalk
The rain makes running pools in the gutter
The rain plays a little sleep song on our roof at night
And I love the rain.

Source

 

Reflection:

Langston Hughes’ “April Rain Song” feels like a lullaby for the soul — soft, rhythmic, and alive with gratitude for the simplest of gifts. The poet doesn’t resist the rain or seek shelter from it; he welcomes it with open arms. Each drop becomes a blessing, each sound a reminder to slow down and listen.

Hughes transforms what many see as gloomy weather into a moment of grace. His rain doesn’t merely fall — it sings, plays, kisses, and soothes. It reminds us that beauty often lives in what we overlook, and that healing can come quietly, drop by drop.

The poem invites us to rediscover tenderness — toward nature, toward life, and toward ourselves. To love the rain is to love the cycle of renewal it represents: cleansing, restoring, and beginning again.

Question for Readers:

When was the last time you paused to simply listen to the rain? What emotions or memories did it stir within you?

Renewal of Strength ~ A Poem by Frances Ellen Watkins

by

Renewal of Strength

Frances Ellen Watkins

The prison-house in which I live
Is falling to decay,
But God renews my spirit’s strength,
Within these walls of clay.

For me a dimness slowly creeps
Around earth’s fairest light,
But heaven grows clearer to my view,
And fairer to my sight.

It may be earth’s sweet harmonies
Are duller to my ear,
But music from my Father’s house
Begins to float more near.

Then let the pillars of my home
Crumble and fall away;
Lo, God’s dear love within my soul
Renews it day by day.

Source

Podcast: Bouncing Back from Grieving: The Power of Resilience

by

Grief can feel like it robs us of our strength, leaving us lost and uncertain. But deep within, resilience waits to be rediscovered. In this episode of Journey from Grief to Healing, Dr. Ray Calabrese explores how life’s challenges—whether childhood falls, heartbreak, or profound loss—shape our ability to rise again. Drawing on poetry, personal reflections, and the wisdom of resilience, this episode reminds us that healing is possible. Your journey isn’t over, and your best days are still ahead. Tune in and take the next step toward renewal, hope, and peace.

Listen Now

In Memoriam A.H.H. ~ A New Year’s Eve Poem by Alfred Lord Tennyson

by

In Memoriam A.H.H.

Alfred Lord Tennyson

Ring out, wild bells, to the wild sky,
The flying cloud, the frosty light:
The year is dying in the night;
Ring out, wild bells, and let him die.

Ring out the old, ring in the new,
Ring, happy bells, across the snow:
The year is going, let him go;
Ring out the false, ring in the true.

Ring out the grief that saps the mind
For those that here we see no more;
Ring out the feud of rich and poor,
Ring in redress to all mankind.

Ring out a slowly dying cause,
And ancient forms of party strife;
Ring in the nobler modes of life,
With sweeter manners, purer laws.

Ring out the want, the care, the sin,
The faithless coldness of the times;
Ring out, ring out my mournful rhymes
But ring the fuller minstrel in.

Ring out false pride in place and blood,
The civic slander and the spite;
Ring in the love of truth and right,
Ring in the common love of good.

Ring out old shapes of foul disease;
Ring out the narrowing lust of gold;
Ring out the thousand wars of old,
Ring in the thousand years of peace.

Ring in the valiant man and free,
The larger heart, the kindlier hand;
Ring out the darkness of the land,
Ring in the Christ that is to be.

Source

Positive Thought of the Day ~ Make Time to be Quiet

by

“I think “quiet” sometime is a greater power than noise. It can harbor and reveal feelings that can’t be expressed.”

Robert Redford
NOTE: When we find a quiet space we allow our minds to empty the clutter they’ve collected through the day. Quiet spaces are all around us. Tune out the interruptions and noise. Ten minutes of quiet offers new energy, insights, and a refreshed spirit. 

Think About It ~ Do Something Nice for Yourself

by

When was the last time you did something nice for yourself? If you do something nice for yourself, you’re not being selfish, you’re honoring your person. You’re setting aside a brief period of time to relax, enjoy life. You’ll come back to those close to you refresh and renewed. You’ll be better able to move into their space and love them.

What if I took a spontaneous weekend trip?

by

What if I took a spontaneous weekend trip, what would I experience? My guess is I’d rekindle a childlike sense of adventure. I’ll toss my stuff in my backpack. I’ll purposely forget to take my laptop. I’ll leave early and leave all my worries in rearview mirror. They’ll wait for me. Getting away is important. It refreshes the spirit and body. It relieves us of the stress we’ve become so used to carrying we don’t even notice it. One caution, you’ll come back feeling so good, you may want to make it a habit. LOL. 

Verified by MonsterInsights