Blessed Storms

During stormy weather
Clouds seem to lose their glow;
Gathering together
They darken Earth below.

The leaden sky explodes;
Rain pelts the ground with force
Threatening to erode
The soil without remorse.

Clouds rumble, roil and moan;
Lights split the sky in two;
Earth's creatures hide and groan
Birds bid the air adieu.

Though dark clouds hide the sun;
Though they are glum and gray -
Without them we're undone
For they send life our way.

They're smiled on by the Son
He formed; sent each of them;
A blessing every one;
A mystery to men.

Bringing much needed rain
Enabling life to grow;
Though storms can cause much pain
We need their blessed flow.

When storm clouds gather close
And life seems dark and bleak;
When foes attack; oppose
Leaving us battered; weak

Remember that each cloud's
A blessing in disguise -
Sent by God; allowed
To strengthen; make us wise.

This poem was a finalist in the October 2009 poetry contest