Sat in the swing all afternoon waiting for the sun to slide down the sky, waiting to see Mother Nature’s glorious watercolors on the horizon. The sun’s sterling silver rays were like a flashlight beam on my face as I sat perched in the swing. I could feel its life giving heat, hot on my cheeks, raising my hand to shade my eyes for a few moments. Mother Nature was again using her palette of pastel watercolors, brushing the horizon a pale aqua blue, beginning to paint her masterpiece. As the sun got close to setting down for the night, the horizon was bathed in a pure golden light, so ethereal, so beautiful. Father Sky bent over to kiss the sun goodnight as the day’s light waned and promised the sun he’d wake the moon, pin her nightlight stars on the night’s sky. She’s a lucky girl!

Maya Angelou said, “The ache for home lives in all of us.” Such a true thought. Home is where we feel safe, and secure, and wanted, and loved. When Chief died I tried to stay in Alexander City but I longed for my family in Roanoke in a way that was different from when Chief was alive. Chief was the heart of our home. With him gone, our home was cold and bare. I didn’t realize how much I missed my family till they became my home.

“Having a place to go is a home. Having someone to love is a family. Having both is a blessing.” — Donna Hedges

I think our home is not a physical place but a place where we feel we belong, where we feel welcome. God wants us to feel at home with him. No matter what happens we will always have a home in our faith and in our prayers. God said, “Dwell in me, and I will dwell in you.” God lives in our hearts and we have a spiritual home in him. I love this saying, “Home is where the heart is.” So where we find our heart, we find our home. God lives in our heart and we have a spiritual home in him.

No one leads a perfect life. Life is difficult for everybody. We all face the same trails and tribulations. And we know there is much work to be done before we get the rewards of a life we’ll lived. Life is full of beauty and joy but we experience grief and loss, hate and regret, sadness and misery.

Some of us are haunted by the past and can’t let things go. Our attitude is what guides us through life. Put the past behind you and live for today. If you dwell only on the things you feel aren’t going right in your life, you will never appreciate all the blessings present now in your life. During hard times God is standing by our side. James 1:12 says, “Blessed is the one who perseveres under trial because, having stood the test, that person will receive the crown of life that the Lord has promised to those who love him.”

The Lord is a strong fortress and we can run to him and be safe. Even when you feel you can’t keep going and the path is too hard to walk, don’t stumble alone, grab the hand of God and make your way. His hands are always out stretched to us. The Lord never leaves us, he’s always in our heart. Our faith and prayers offer us security when we are facing storms. I know from experience the power of prayer and the healing that comes from believing that God hears and answers our prayers. God is always watching over us. He is always present in our lives.

“God is not some distant, far away, absentee father. No, He is present, He cares, and He doesn’t want you to worry.” — Pauline Creeden