Splendor in the Grass

I recently finished a painting of a butterfly and asked facebook friends for ideas on a name. One suggested Splendor in the Grass and asked if I knew of the poem by Woodsworth? I didn’t and once I read it, was captivated by this line, “though nothing can bring back the hour of splendor in the grass, of glory in the flower, we grieve not, rather find strength in what lies behind.” Google says the poem is about the fleeting nature of youth. Maybe? I see in this line a beautiful sentiment about legacy left behind by loved ones.

I just finished another scene that includes redwood trees and a stream. I took the reference photo outside of my dentist’s office in Occidental this winter because the scene reminded me of growing up in the redwoods. I loved it when it rained enough that the creek ran in winter. In it I added forget-me-nots and wild irises. When my grandmother passed away we spread her ashes by a redwood tree where wild irises were blooming. I named this painting Forget Me Not in her honor.

My grandma has been gone for 23 years, yet I still miss her. She left behind a legacy that is still meaningful. She was an intelligent woman, who got her master’s degree in nursing while many women still weren’t going to college. She had a career nursing, including teaching at Stanford’s teaching hospital. When I was struggling as a young teacher she paid for a class on assertiveness ☺️ She taught me to sew by hand, and to enjoy peanut butter on toast with sliced bananas. She loved to play backgammon with me, enjoyed growing roses, and teaching Bible Study. Her faith despite the difficulties she’d faced was inspiring. She was an amazing listener and a pretty terrible cook 😆 she loved to watch live sports, and came to every school event she could. I was so fortunate to have her love and support.

These gifts my grandmother gave me are her legacy. They are what “lies behind” even once the flowers have faded.

Today we can enjoy time with those we love, storing up memories. When they are gone, those memories will be their legacy and continue to warm our hearts. Things like the smell of a double delight rose blooming, or a taste of peanut butter on toast with sliced bananas can bring them back to us for a minute 💗

Spring is fading into summer. Time seems to pass more quickly the older I get. I don’t want to miss the splendor in the grass of this moment- the butterfly landing on wild radish that Brent caught with his camera for me, or the end of the irises blooming. Soon the apple blossoms will turn into apples, and my berry vine full of blooms will share tart fruit- some of the joys of summer.

Each season has its beauty and perhaps its heartbreak. In the midst of the sad, I don’t want to miss the good. I have the privilege of being auntie to wonderful nieces and nephews. Two are close by. In the midst of this season of grief, I haven’t felt very “fun”, but Sanyu and Ssuubi both just had birthdays. These led to some special time out together and wonderful smiles pictured here. Memories were made 😍 and my heart was full after getting time together.

Let’s find strength in what “lies behind”, joy in those things that transcend time and bring delight to our hearts. What splendor in the grass can we catch today?