I love a rainy day!  In Arizona, we don't get as many of them as I would like, or as my garden would like.  However, in September, we got quite a few rainy days in a row, it was such an invigorating treat!

On one of those days, I laid down on the front porch and photographed the drops hitting the landscape, including a cluster of pretty, little flower weeds, while my kids ran around outside and enjoyed the downpour.   This is a picture one of them took of me.

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Here is what the rain looked and sounded like to my right (slightly slowed down):

LongerRain

Don't you just love that sound?

Here are some art pieces that I made from a series of images of these weeds, along with what I believe the Lord was pointing out to me in each one:

RaindropsOnWeedsBacklit raindrops fall and grab onto thin, flowery weeds, creating a symphony of color and light. Beauty can be found even in things that are often viewed as eyesores, especially when the rain comes. These weeds grow close to my front door. I've often considered pulling them, but resist the urge because, even though they may seem unsightly, they provide a covering for the otherwise bare soil. In their covering, they give shade, hold in water, provide a home for insects, and help to prevent erosion. They protect that patch of ground until I, the gardner, have time to remove them and replace them with a more seemly and productive covering. Our hearts can be similar to this weed covered land, allowing things to continue to grow and protect us as they wait for a time when we are ready to pull the weeds and plant more life giving seeds. Rain brings out beauty, even in the weeds, just as the Holy Spirit brings out beauty even in our uncultivated hearts.

Raindrops On Weeds
 

Beauty can be found even in things that are often viewed as eyesores, especially when the rain comes. These weeds grow close to my front door. I've often considered pulling them, but resist the urge because, even though they may seem unsightly, they provide a covering for the otherwise bare soil. In their covering, they give shade, hold in water, provide a home for insects, and help to prevent erosion. They protect that patch of ground until I, the gardner, have time to remove them and replace them with a more seemly and productive covering. Our hearts can be similar to this weed covered land, allowing things to continue to grow and protect us as they wait for a time when we are ready to pull the weeds and plant more life giving seeds. Rain brings out beauty, even in the weeds, just as the Holy Spirit brings out beauty even in our uncultivated hearts.
 

SlidingDropletsHow amazing it is that such small, thin raindrops can grab onto a stem and find each other, sliding together to form such large droplets. The surface tension of the water holds the molecues together, until they become too heavy and fall to the ground, where they nourish the dry land and start their cycle over again.

This world is full of cycles, and so are our lives. Sometimes we feel so far down that we could go no lower, and sometimes we find the grace to let go of all our cares and feel as if we are soaring. Life is a journey, and we were made for community. Water molecules are attracted to each other, it is called cohesion. People also come together into tight units, like families. We may feel all alone in our seasons of falling, but we can rest assured that when we bump into the right people, we will once again be part of a larger unit. If we allow Him, God will pull us into the families that we will flourish in.

Sliding Droplets

How amazing it is that such small, thin raindrops can grab onto a stem and find each other, sliding together to form such large droplets. The surface tension of the water holds the molecules together until they become too heavy and fall to the ground, where they nourish the dry land and start their cycle over again.

This world is full of cycles, and so are our lives. Sometimes we feel so far down that we could go no lower, and sometimes we find the grace to let go of all our cares and feel as if we are soaring. Life is a journey, and we were made for community. Water molecules are attracted to each other, it is called cohesion. People also come together into tight units, like families. We may feel all alone in our seasons of falling, but we can rest assured that when we bump into the right people, we will once again be part of a larger unit. If we allow Him, God will pull us into the families that we will flourish in.
 

HiddenGemsA light rain falls on flowering weeds with bursts of color in the foreground and background. The stems of the plants bend under the weight of the raindrops that reflect their surroundings. Small details inhabit every inch of the image, from delicate streaks of rain to large splashes of color.

In a busy world, everything can become a blur until we focus in on one thing. It is amazing at how much detail appears when we let distractions lose shape and zero in on one thing at a time. What a reminder to choose well what we focus on.

Hidden Gems

In a busy world, everything can become a blur until we focus in on one thing. It is amazing at how much detail appears when we let distractions lose shape and zero in on one thing at a time. What a reminder to choose well what we focus on.
 

WaitingOutTheStormRaindrops bead up on weed flowers and their stems. Out of focus droplets in the background look like strings of pearls floating in the air. A waterlogged bee rests on a stem on the right side of the frame, waiting for the storm to pass. Sometimes in life, when it seems the rain will never stop, sitting still and watching the world get saturated in big, colorful, magnifying, and reflective drops can bring the new perspective that we are needing in the moment.

Waiting Out the Storm

Raindrops bead up on weed flowers and their stems. Out of focus droplets in the background look like strings of pearls floating in the air. A waterlogged bee rests on a stem on the right side of the frame, waiting for the storm to pass. Sometimes in life, when it seems the rain will never stop, sitting still and watching the world get saturated in big, colorful, magnifying, and reflective drops can bring the new perspective that we are needing in the moment.

BubbleRainFalling rain bubbles together to form drops around flowering weeds. Small drops continue to fall in the background wguke dustant plants form patches of color to show off the painterly buds.

Bubble Rain

As the drops come together, they hold tight to the stems and buds of the flowers, magnifying their color and reflecting everything in close proximity to them.  The droplets hold tight to the plants until they become too heavy to hold anymore and they suddenly fall to the ground.

We go through times in our lives where everything seems magnified.  The tiniest details of life seem to become so big that we cannot seem to look past them.  Sadly, these details are often what we do not like about ourselves.  Not only are they magnified, but we seem to see them reflecting back at us everywhere we look.  Fortunately, if we wait, or shake ourselves off, and allow God to be magnified through us once again, the things that were magnifying us or our faults, will fall off and drop away.

I hope you enjoyed the artwork and what it represents.   

Prints and products such as puzzles, phone cases, etc. displaying these pieces may be purchased here:  https://inthelight.pixels.com/collections/flowers