I was lost in writing when I was reminded of a song that I used to absolutely love by The Carpenters. (I blame my sister for all my knowledge of Carpenter lyrics).
Rainy days and Mondays always get me down.*
This morning, I woke up to find a message from my sister-in-law. She had attached a picture — a picture of my husband. “What a nice face to wake up to,” I told her in response. I just wish I was really waking up to his face…next to mine…but I’m not. It’s just me, the pillows and the cat. Then I get up to find it’s still raining and it’s Monday.
It’s a good thing this song didn’t come to mind at 6 a.m. or I would have been in a funk for the past 10 hours. Karen Carpenter knew how to keep us mellow:
What I’ve got they used to call the blues
Nothin’ is really wrong
Feelin’ like I don’t belong
Walkin’ around
Some kind of lonely clown
Rainy days and Mondays always get me down
Yet, even in her sad song, I can find a glimpse of hope for the end of a dreary day:
What I feel has come and gone before
No need to talk it out
We know what it’s all about
I told my brother, who shares my feelings, that one day of rain we can handle, two or more are trouble. It’s nothing new, just like Karen said. I’ve had this feeling come and go before. And that’s what’s good to know — it will go. I know it will, because it has before. The rain will eventually stop and the sun will come out, reminding me that grief won’t last forever. There will be reasons to smile and be grateful, to look at a picture with good memories and no tears.
When the rain comes and the sky is dreary, I find ways to make things brighter; whether it’s by turning all the lights on or spending time with friends or a funny movie. While the rainy days and Mondays might get me down, I won’t let them keep me down.
That reminds me of another great Carpenter tune that might help:
Sing, sing a song
Sing out loud
Sing out strong
Sing of good things not bad
Sing of happy not sad**
Let the joy of the Lord be your strength and your song, even on rainy days and Mondays.
Grace and Peace
*Songwriters: Paul H. Williams / Roger S. Nichols. Rainy Days and Mondays lyrics © Universal Music Publishing Group. Sung by The Carpenters.
**Songwriters: Joseph G. Raposo. Sing lyrics © Sony/ATV Music Publishing LLC.