“You are the light of the world. A town built on a hill cannot be hidden. Neither do people light a lamp and put it under a bowl. Instead they put it on its stand, and it gives light to everyone in the house. In the same way, let your light shine before others, that they may see your good deeds and glorify your Father in heaven.”(Matthew 5:14-16, NIV)
It had been a long winter. Bitter cold, snowy days had hit us again and again. On the warmerdays there had been little sunshine only cold, icy rain. The sun had become such a rare sight thatI had taken to looking at a picture of it on my wall calendar to remember what it looked like. Thegrass had remained brown and dormant in the meadows. The deer had come out of the woodsand started digging through the fallen leaves in our yards looking for what acorns they could find. My own backyard had turned into a muddy mess that tried to steal the shoes right off my feet as Iwalked on it. My heart ached and longed for Spring and my own good cheer had trouble risingup against the continuous, cold, gray days.
The rain poured down on me as I walked my dogs, holding their leashes in my icy fingers. Ilooked up at the sky hoping to see the sun smiling down with its warm, golden face. But it wasno use. The sky was as overcast as ever and Spring still seemed an eternity away. It was then,however, that I saw it. It wasn’t the smiling face of the sun in the sky but a little, yellow facepeeking through the mud. It was a dandelion, the first of the year and it filled my heart with hopeand joy. I smiled and thanked God for this little sign that Winter would soon be over and thatSpring would arrive bringing life to this world once again. I felt my good cheer rising up at lastand I promised God that I would share it with everyone I could.
One day that tiny dandelion’s seeds will fill the meadow with little, yellow faces smiling upfrom the ground. Its work will make this world a better and more beautiful place. May we alldo the same. May we all shine our light and share our love even on the coldest and grayest days.May we all help God to share a bit of Spring in the midst of Winter. May we all work to makethis world better and brighter even when it is at its darkest.
Joseph J. Mazzella