The legend of the raindrop

holds a lesson for us all

as it trembles in the heavens

wondering should it fall.

The glistening little raindrop

argued with the sky -

"I am beautiful and lovely

as I sparkle here on high."

"And hanging here I will become

part of the rainbow's hue;

and I'll shimmer like a diamond

for all the world to view."

But the heavens asked the raindrop,

"Why do you hesitate to go?

For you'll be far more beautiful

if you fall to earth below."

"For you will sink in the soil,

And be lost awhile from sight,

but when you  reappear on earth

You'll be greeted with delight."

"For you will be the raindrop

that quenched the thirsty ground

and helped the lovely flowers

to blossom all around."

"And in your resurrection

You'll appear in queenly clothes,

in the beauty of the sky

and the fragrance of the rose."

"For nothing's ever lost,

nothing's ever gone for good,

but renews itself upon the earth

as God thought that it should."

"So trust God's mighty wisdom,

let yourself drop from the sky

and you will fall and rise again,

for nothing ever dies."

*adapted from an anonymous verse