gold

I watched it while I was driving this morning,

the sun breaking over the horizon in a glorious line.

My friend saw it streaking red across her street

before it dulled to grey.

My mom watched it splash the cityscape with gold

from her hospital bed.

The dawning of a new day of new opportunity. Mercy abundant!

Each new day appears as clean as the driven snow and as beautiful as the golden sun.

How quickly we trample the pristine white and how often we exchange colour for gray.

The new opportunities are neglected and blessings ignored.

And yet, at the end of the day we reflect the Light of the Risen Sun.

Thank you Father for the blessings of this day!

I spent a few lovely hours chatting with mom today,

quietly and truthfully in her hospital room.

And hope springs eternal...

perhaps we can beat this ?

blues

Wind sculpts and breezes shape,

Shadows contrast and light defines.

Life hones and experiences build,

Trouble teaches and Light leads.

It is easy to question. Why difficulties? Why discouragement? Why illness? Why monotony?

Quoting from Chris Tiegreen in this mornings devotional:

God has not placed us where we are simply for the output we can produce, .... He has put us there because that is a context in wich He wants to display Himself. Our work is about Him, ....and we are there because God wants to put godliness on display for others to see.... Whatever you do, have this in mind: You are doing it not just because God wants you to be there, but because He wants to be there too.

So here I stand, often discouraged by the monotony of repeated tasks and lack of visible productivity. I sit, with a knot of fear inside me worried about my mom. And there she lies fighting the cancer invading her. Here we stand, and sit, and there we lie.

Is godliness on display? Surely God is there too.

How often I fail....

reds

Snow fell, although not nearly as much as was expected.

The world is fresh again, cloaked in white,

but occasionally a vivid red catches the eye

and shows the world is not plain white after all.

frozen

Sometimes even thoughts seem frozen and suspended

and wait for warmth to release them.

Sometimes minds are tired and emotions dulled

and souls wait for peace to invade them.

Sometimes hearts feel afraid and in suspense

and spirits need hope to raise them.

friendships

Flowers speak of love

and blossoms tell tales of friendship

as they stand on a table covered with stitches

crocheted together with care.

And by these we are blessed; the listening ears and the open arms and the praying hearts.

miniscule magic

An above zero day lends itself

to the melting of snow into water

which drops onto evergreen boughs below.

Wee drops freeze while grasping tiny green needles.

New flakes drift earthward

and alight cautiously on these fragile gems.

It does the heart good to step outdoors and admire God's handiwork.

Nature is splendid whether grandiose or miniscule.

january 25th

Somedays there are no words to say or to ponder

but a simple day of routine produces thoughts of thanksgiving

that the minutes and hours that slipped by were good.