Hope in strawberries

          I close my eyes and images of the trees before
me are stained in red, turning to black and white. A
form of an etched scenery unfolds as the breaths
become spaced evenly.

           Ah a bit of quirkiness sits here. Birds becoming
more and more vocal but as soon as I open my eyes
silent they are. Then the wind comes to press my
lungs with freshness.

          Soft are the giggles that burst from within. The
silly hellos of a day. Singing a lullaby inside my
head.

          I look up and see rapid screens open and
sunlight fall in spots as though sprinkled upon the
earth.

         Ah childhood giggles do fall open and memories
pour from the files. Flinging one silly moment into
the next. Indeed happiness sits here.

         Settling the soul for a bit of a nap, the thoughts
of warm strawberries and cold peaches bring upon
more wide grins.

         Hmm. Then the welcoming faces of my
grandfather and sister seated at the kitchen table
eating away the vanilla ice cream and diving into
the fresh fruit below.

       Ah such a glorious moment. The silliness of
my grandfather making faces as he watches his
granddaughters inhale the delicious refreshment
after a game of hide and seek.

        Indeed another viewing of strawberries has me
thinking, recalling my daughter. Her grand passion
as a toddler was for dancing pretty dresses,
strawberries, creamy havarti cheese and sparkling
Welch's grape juice in a wine glass. Ah how adorable
and creative she was then. The precise way she
had to have things.

       Oh how I miss her and her brother.

       Closing my eyes. Trying so hard to hold back
the tears only to realize they are already falling
steadily from the corners. Wiping them away only
to see the joy inside the sadness.

       Soon. Soon I will see them again. Soon.

        So thankful for the hope, the faith and the
support. One by one the breaths ease the pain and
I gain the strength to press forward.

        Once more I overcome and persevere as the
sunlight drops upon my soul.

         Thank you Jehovah.

        Smiling, shining and soaring within. Exploding
through all the layers to the surface.

                 Can you see my joy?