Today is a good day. I’m watching Gunsmoke from my easy chair, Penelope napping in my lap. We’re snuggled up under a beautiful cardinal blanket, eating chocolates from a Whitman’s Sampler my children gave me for Valentine’s Day. My little heater is burning its fake logs warmly. Father Sky has sketched a wondrous overcast sky canvas — blues and grays and whites and aquas and vanilla clouds, all pushed together, blocking the sun’s rays. I’d love to sit and ponder in the swing, study the shades of color in the cloud cover but it’s too cold for me. If I can’t ponder perched in the porch swing I’m going to ponder perched in my La-Z-Boy watching a western.

My yard is teaming with cardinals and chickadees, downy woodpeckers and titmice, a charm of purple finches. A host of fat little sparrows is resting on the bare scuppernong vines beside the porch bannisters, a beautiful painting of nature’s art in watercolor shades of brown. The cardinals, paired up in bright crimson and fawn brown plumage, sit on the power lines, straight and still like rows of metal carnival booth birds, patiently waiting while l fill up the feeders. It’s wintry today but spring can’t be too far behind. Chief would be so happy looking through the stack of seed catalogs by my chair. He’d be making out his seed orders, getting his clay pots ready for planting seeds, cleaning his little garden spots up. He’d probably be bringing me the first daffodils of the season. I miss him so much! I know he’s gardening in heaven.

I just saw Howard McLean, who played Floyd Lawson, the barber from The Andy Griffith Show, on this episode of Gunsmoke. I love all the stars I see in these old westerns. Saw Betty Davis once on Gunsmoke fixing to gun down Matt Dillon, was going to shoot him in the back, but Miss Kitty shot her down. I loved it! In the episode I’m watching now, I see Chuck Connors who played Lucas McCain in The Rifleman. Ran across a piece of trivia about Gunsmoke, Matt Dillon kissed only one woman during the whole series and it wasn’t Kitty. As the country song says “He never hung his hat at Kitty’s place.” I’ve discovered the western’s channel on Pluto TV and I’m addicted.

Been reading in a little devotional book I purchased at the thrift store, marking pages of favorite quotes with chewing gum wrappers. The first one I marked says, “God can do more for you in a minute than you can do in a lifetime.” Give a thought about the power of a loving God. He watches over us, guides us on our life’s journeys, lights our way in the darkness, gives us rainbows of hope when days are trying. His love is unconditional, his forgiveness unfailing regardless of our sins. He listens and answers our prayers. I always say a short prayer when I wake in the mornings, just a quick prayer of thanks to God for another day on planet Earth. Psalm 5:3 states, “Listen to my voice in the morning, Lord. Each morning I bring my requests to you and wait expectantly.”

Ever long for peace in your life, calm assurance of God’s grace and love. The second quote I marked says, “There is nothing better than peace. Peace equals more power in your life!” Scripture in Romans 15:13 reads, “May the God of hope fill you with all joy and peace as you trust in him, so that you may overflow with hope by the power of the Holy Spirit.” Prayers can bring peace and hope when life is overwhelming. The loving power of God gives us the strength to overcome challenges, teaches us to live with compassion, gives us joy and hope. 1 Peter 5:7 says, “Give all your worries and cares to God, for he cares about you.”

When we feel God’s love we have the strength to face life’s trials and tribulations. We never walk alone. When we’re afraid God gives us courage. Scripture in Isaiah reads, “Fear not for I am with you. Be not dismayed, for I am your God. I will strengthen you, yes, I will help you, I will uphold you with my righteous right hand.”

When God is with us we are empowered by his love.

“God never said that the journey would be easy, but He did say that the arrival would be worthwhile.” — Max Lucado