Kathryn Elizabeth Jones

In the morning I awake.
Cows in many pastures look up and moo
Their tails swishing the dust and high meadow grass.

Pigs rush about their pens.
Plants begin peeking around houses and barns and gates lanes.
Everything is quiet and settled.

Before long farmers come out to plow their fields
And people race in their cars.
Children run and jump and mothers smile.
Energy fills the earth, and many are happy.

And so am I.

My rays reach half the earth.
People wipe their foreheads
And run through sprinklers on green grass and yellowing lawns.
Some look up quickly, bunching up their eyes on this hot day.

I feed the tops of trees and the smallest garden flower.
These look up to me, seeing the magic and are glad.
The grass grows taller and gardens produce food as well as beauty.

In the late afternoon it rains.

I hide myself behind the many dark clouds and watch as the people walk into their homes
Some to watch the rain through their open or glassed windows.
A few children play, splashing in the puddles, opening their mouths to catch and to taste.

Where the rain does not reach, and sometimes even where it does reach
I see sadness, sickness and pain.
And I smile even then, although tears trickle down my hot cheeks.
I know people grow from difficulties, and one day they will smile again.

I come from behind the dark and heavy clouds and rest for a moment
Allowing the rays of the rainbow to reflect and color the earth in newness.
Those who are sad or sick or in pain come out of their homes and looked up.
Some point. Others smile and turned their faces to the sky.
Those in pain have tears in their eyes as they gazed on the splendid colors of the rainbow.

My own tears reflect through the rainbow. Tears for the fatherless. The motherless. The childless. The widow. The orphan. All are a type of pain not unknown to me.

I will soon go down. The day will be past. The earth will be dark except for a few remembrances.
But I will come again.

Tomorrow, and each day thereafter I will come and teach about life. Through the animals, the plants and the sky. Through the people living and dying. Through joy and through pain. And I will help them remember.

I am the Son.

Kathryn Elizabeth Jones
	*Author of "A River of Stones"*
	*A Novel for Young Adults*
	*The Sun's Gift*
	In the morning I awake. Cows in many pastures look up and moo Their tails swishing the dust and high meadow grass. Pigs rush about their pens. Plants begin peeking around houses and barns and gates lanes. Everything is quiet and settled. Before long farmers come out to plow their fields And people race in their cars. Children run and jump and mothers smile. Energy fills the earth, and many are happy. And so am I. My rays reach half the earth. People wipe their foreheads And run through sprinklers on green grass and yellowing lawns. Some look up quickly, bunching up their eyes on this hot day. I feed the tops of trees and the smallest garden flower. These look up to me, seeing the magic and are glad. The grass grows taller and gardens produce food as well as beauty. In the late afternoon it rains. I hide myself behind the many dark clouds and watch as the people walk into their homes Some to watch the rain through their open or glassed windows. A few children play, splashing in the puddles, opening their mouths to catch and to taste. Where the rain does not reach, and sometimes even where it does reach I see sadness, sickness and pain. And I smile even then, although tears trickle down my hot cheeks. I know people grow from difficulties, and one day they will smile again. I come from behind the dark and heavy clouds and rest for a moment Allowing the rays of the rainbow to reflect and color the earth in newness. Those who are sad or sick or in pain come out of their homes and looked up. Some point. Others smile and turned their faces to the sky. Those in pain have tears in their eyes as they gazed on the splendid colors of the rainbow. My own tears reflect through the rainbow. Tears for the fatherless. The motherless. The childless. The widow. The orphan. All are a type of pain not unknown to me. I will soon go down. The day will be past. The earth will be dark except for a few remembrances. But I will come again. Tomorrow, and each day thereafter I will come and teach about life. Through the animals, the plants and the sky. Through the people living and dying. Through joy and through pain. And I will help them remember. I am the Son.