The day is so pretty. Bright warm sunshine, rows of clouds floating and changing shapes in the blue sky of fall. I’ve watched the clouds morph into an angel, elephant, fish, and a wolf. Even saw one that made me think of Elvis in sunglasses. Several large clouds joined together in the sky over my great grandmother’s house and as I watched the clouds take shape, the cloud gathering looked like Jesus, his head bent, looking down at the earth, his arms outstretched, dressed in a white robe.

I could see his face in the cloud formation, the sleeves of his robe, a shawl headdress. Hurriedly took a photo to show my son. I asked him what he saw and he says, “A cloud.” Guess we all have different views of the clouds. I think he’s inside packing my suitcase for Shady Oaks right now. I’ll post the photo and y’all decide what the clouds look like. Guess I’ve just got a creative imagination.

The sky canvas is painted in so many colors of blue today. I think Father Sky is taking watercolor lessons from Mother Nature, learning how to tint colors in various shades. Every time the clouds part hands I see turquoise, pale blue, or deep azure. So beautiful! The clouds are brilliant white or graying up with rain. Some are dark purple ready to spill their rain. I’m enamored with the clouds today.

Was cooking supper and watched the sunset when it was almost over. Mother Nature had painted a blue and gray sunset on the backdrop of the horizon and the sun slipped down in a bowl of vanilla sky, tucking her pageant gown around her and turning the day to dusk. Father Sky kissed the sun goodnight and went to wake the moon and stars.

I’ve been pondering on the porch most of the day. This porch and its two swing have become my resting place, my church, and my refuge. The birds and the squirrels and the chipmunks give me so much pleasure and happiness as I watch them flit around the bird feeders and the bird baths. Two squirrels jumped up on the bird feeders and drank this afternoon, their tails in a proper question mark position.

Watching the sunsets at night emphasizes my faith in God. Reminds me of God’s love and faithfulness. How can you not believe in a higher being when you see the sky’s sunset, a magnificent painting of vivid colors. I guess we could call the sunset one of God’s miracles, a gift to us to show us that the day’s ending is just as beautiful as the day’s beginning. Every sunset gives us the promise of another dawn.

I can see God’s love in the sunsets and the clouds. The most beautiful sunsets need moisture and clouds. Our lives need rain and clouds to help us appreciate the beautiful sunsets we’re blessed with. We need to be aware of the beauty and miracles in our lives. God’s glory is in the heavens and in our hearts.

The sunsets are just routine in our fast paced world. I know, I never really paid them any attention till I started sitting out on the porch, when I moved back to my family home in Roanoke. Sunsets are just another example of God’s love. Psalm 8:1 says, “Lord, how majestic is your name in all the earth! You have set your glory in the heavens.” And sunsets are glorious, even when painted in pale pastels.

Nothing can stop the sun from setting. She lays her head down every night in a brief and beautiful free pageant of color but the sunset’s beauty is temporary. Maybe God is using the brief setting of the sun to help us realize life is short and we need to appreciate all life’s special moments. Sunsets tell us another day is coming full of new possibilities.

“When you see that sunset or that panoramic view of God’s finest expressed in nature, and the beauty just takes your breath away, remember it is just a glimpse of the real thing that awaits you in heaven.” — Greg Laurie