The sky is just as beautiful and blue this morning as the 12-carat Ceylon sapphire in Princess Diana’s engagement ring. I was thinking, where I had seen this shade of blue, trying to describe the color, and the princess’s ring came to mind. The queen was angry because Diana chose a ring from the jeweler’s catalog “that any commoner could buy.” The ring cost $60,000 when purchased, valued today at $400,000. You’d have to be a wealthy commoner to buy that ring.

It was a cool 37 degrees as Penelope, dressed in her fancy sweater but not paralyzed yet, took her first walk of the day. Some of the oak leaves still had frost on them and I could feel their coolness through the hole in my shoe, dampening my sock. I’m pretty sure Santa will take care of me and leave some new dog walking shoes under my Christmas tree. I’m going to miss these old docksiders.

The sun was warm and bright, soaking the deep blue from the sky, melting the frost off the grass and leaves. So glorious to walk from the cool shade into the warmth of God’s sun. I saw two large yellow bellied woodpeckers warming themselves, perched on the power lines, enjoying the blessings of early morning sun rays. My yard was teaming with songbirds fueling their stomachs with seeds to keep themselves warm. When we came in the house Penelope immediately hopped up on the sofa and lost her ability to walk. I let her whine a few seconds before I took her sweater off. Instantly cured of her paralysis, she leaped off the sofa and did the cha cha cha dance to her food bowl in the kitchen. She is rotten cotton, knows how to work the dog/master charade.

Been missing watching the sunsets but tonight I watched a glorious masterpiece of nature’s art. Mother Nature lit up the sky at sunset in watercolor layers of a raging wildfire — dark orange, red and yellow flames — the shades of color thinning out as they blended together toward the blue heavens, silhouetting the trees inky black. Line clouds, rolled up across the skyline were tinted a pastel pink, an odd contrast to the fire burning below. The sun changed her dress three times before she was content enough with her dress choice to begin her walk across the sunset pageant stage.

The sun was introduced first on stage dressed in a pageant gown of lemon yellow silk, her rays radiating warmth. As she stood beaming her blinding yellow light, she quickly changed into a dark peach taffeta gown and began her walk down the horizon. Still dissatisfied with her choice of gowns, she slowly dressed in a chiffon gown of muted tangerine, rolled down the horizon on the arm of Father Sky and flounced her hemline of peach silk ruffles across the skyline as the flames of color intensified. Father Sky tucked the sun in her cloud covers, kissed her goodnight, put out the wildfires of sunset, and rushed to wake the nighttime. Under the directions of Father Sky, the radiant moon and sparkling stars, hung on the sky canvas stage, beginning their luminous pageant of night.

My granddaughter had her Christmas choir concert tonight. My daughter-in-law taped the performance and I’ve already watched it twice and teared up each time. There is nothing more beautiful than to watch a group children happily singing their hearts out. Handley was precious, singing uninhibited with the wonder of childhood and Christmas. The concert moved me so much. Prayers my granddaughter can always find her heart’s love of music.

A love for music is a gift from God. I think we can say music is the language of God, sometimes more profound than words. Colossians 3:16 says, “Let the message of Christ dwell among you richly as you teach and admonish one another with all wisdom through psalms, hymns, and songs from the Spirit.” Sometimes music is more powerful and expresses emotions in a way that words can’t.

In Christianity we worship God through music. Music moves us and touches our souls. I read God loves music and he fills heaven with song. 2 Chronicles 5:13 reads, “The trumpeters and musicians joined in unison to give praise and thanks to the Lord. Accompanied by trumpets, cymbals and other instruments, the singers raised their voices in praise to the Lord and sang: ‘He is good; his love endures forever.’”

When we sing we express our love for God and strengthen our faith. “Sing to the Lord a new song; sing to the Lord, all the earth,” Psalm 96:1. My favorite hymn, Amazing Grace, never fails to move me to tears. “Amazing grace, how sweet the sound that saved a wretch like me. I once was lost, but now I’m found. Was blind, but now I see ’twas grace that taught my heart to fear and grace my fears relieved. How precious did that grace appear the hour I first believed.”

Accept the Lord in your heart and enjoy the spiritual symphonies of life.

“God is love, and music is the language of love.” — Peter Kreeft