The quote from Alexander McCall Smith's "Precious and Grace" uses the metaphor of rain to describe the nature of love. It illustrates how love can sometimes feel scarce, resembling a drought where it seems absent and unreachable. During these hard times, one's heart may become hardened, mirroring the dry land’s inability to nurture life.

However, just as rain eventually comes to alleviate the drought, love can return unexpectedly and bring healing. This sudden resurgence of affection can restore one's spirit, much like how rain revives parched earth. The cycle of love's absence and return is a natural process that ultimately revitalizes our emotional landscape.