Today was one of my mom’s favorite holidays — Groundhog Day! No pressure of gifts or events. No worries of saying it right, offending someone. No “should-haves” or “supposed-tos”. It was, and always would be, only what you made of it, she said. Because whether or not shadows were cast, (and certainly she knew about that), spring was going to come. 

And wasn’t that exactly how she, we, lived. No control of weather, or those who tried to cast things over us, like doubt, or fear, or worry, (all things dark). And even if, or when, they did — we too, just like everyone else, held the promise of spring. It was not based on wealth, or the building you prayed in, the name you held, or the person you voted for. Spring was coming, sometimes later than we wanted, indeed, but it never failed. And wasn’t that a beautiful reason for hope, for celebration! 

Some will call it silly. (I’ve never thought of silly as an insult.) And so what if it is. I will never look down a moment of hope. A day taken just as a reminder that no matter what we do, what is done, spring is coming. Spring is coming! What a gift! What a thing to celebrate! Happy Groundhog Day, my friends! The sun is shining through the window, my heart, my fingers — make of it what you will!