Summer Is A Coming In

Summer is a-coming in

Loudly sing cuckoo

Groweth seed and bloweth mead

and springs the wood anew

Sing cuckoo! [Anon. 13^th C].

            “There is something delicious, Mother, about early summer,” said Alfred. “The trees are alive with a thousand shades of green; green with hues of yellow, purple, red, and even hazy blue in early morning. The roses are already in full bloom, the Grandiflora and the Granny Grimmets in glorious color.”

            “Right you are, Alfred,” said Mother. “Do you remember the old poem Gather Ye Rosebuds While Ye May by Robert Herrick?”

            “Ah, yes,” said Alfred, “but to you remember what it actually says?”

Gather ye rosebuds while ye may,

Old time is still a-flying:

And this same flower that smiles to-day

To-morrow will be dying.

Mother laughed, “Certainly, Alfred, but do you remember what it applies to? It’s advice to young virgins to get married before they age and the bloom is off the rose. Neither of us are young and I suspect that for us the bloom is already off the rose.”

“Mother,” said Alfred, “There is another way of looking at it.  There is an old saying, “Yesterday is a cancelled check, and tomorrow is only a promissory note, and all we really have is today.” In the day we have we should stop to enjoy the roses. There are so many things in this wonderful world. Too often people focus on the glum and even frightening things.”

“That’s a shame, Alfred,” said Mother. “When there are so many things to rejoice in, not only in the flowers of the field.”

“Nor the forests green,” said Alfred.

“Nor the lofty mountains capped with snow,” answered Mother.

“Nor the mighty rolling ocean waves,” answered Alfred.

There are other wonders to rejoice in,” said Mother. “There is the beauty of young lovers holding hands in the park, and the laughter of little children.”

“Yes,” said Alfred, “and don’t forget the beauty of old well weathered love that has withstood the ravages of time.”

“There are so many beautiful things, Alfred,” said Mother. “We should make it a practice to enjoy beauty wherever we find it.”

“Yes, said Alfred, “We should make it a conscious point to revel in the beauty of the world around us.”

“Finally, brothers, whatever is true, whatever is honorable, whatever is just, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is commendable, if there is any excellence, if there is anything worthy of praise, think about these things” [Philippians 4:8].