The wind entertained me all afternoon as it shook brown magnolia leaves from the trees’ branches, chasing them around as they danced in the yards and street. Occasionally the fallen oak tree leaves would join the magnolia leaves for a whirlwind, twisting down the street, slapping themselves loudly on the concrete. I’m always fascinated by the whirlwinds full of leaves, so dramatic to watch, then a quick sigh as it stops and the leaves drop. The wind chime pipes were striking so heavy on the wind chimes I could hear their symphonies in the house. I wished for a kite when I was sitting in swing remember happy kite days with my children and grandchildren. Going to get us some kites for our beach trip this summer.

Taking Penelope on her late afternoon walk I saw the prettiest clouds, little puffs of white cotton floating in rows on the blue sky canvas. A little research and I discovered they were altocumulus clouds. Never seen these before and of course they were gone by the time I grabbed my camera. Mother Nature and Father Sky paint and sketch wondrous skyscapes but if you aren’t watching or turn away you miss these glorious sights.

Mother Nature was showing out with her watercolor brushes at dusk, painting the clouds in glorious shades of purple and cherry blossom pink. I didn’t dare look away and I watched her sunset creation come alive as she added bright yellows and oranges and blues to her composition. She dragged her brushes across the high clouds shading them in periwinkle and hot pink and sketched the jet black tree silhouettes with her charcoal pencil. I sat on the porch steps till the colors faded to gray as night’s darkness walked up the street. A colorful demise of another glorious day on God’s earth. I’m so thankful for the magnificent coloring of our world. Can’t imagine a life without color. British poet Leigh Hunt said, “Colors are the smiles of nature.” So true!

Ru Paul said, “Life is about using the whole box of crayons.” Been thinking about his quote and how color shades our lives. Our lives are like an oil painting, layers of colors stroked on a canvas, each day brush strokes filled with joy and sorrow are layered into a tapestry of living, all of our experiences and emotions coloring our life’s canvas. Johann Wolfgang von Goethe said, “In a world without color, it would be impossible to imagine beauty; for color and beauty are sisters.” Never thought about it but color is linked to our perception of beauty. Maybe if we lived in a colorless world we would see no beauty.

When life gets dark, without color, and we need some light to help us find our way, we need to pray. Blaise Pascal said, “In difficult times you should always carry something beautiful in your mind.” I always see God’s hand when I’m in a dark place and I feel the warmth of his grasp when I reach out. I see God’s hands as a thing of beauty, warm calloused loving hands, large enough to hold us and make us feel secure. He has the creative hands of an artist, the suntanned strong hands of a farmer, the gentle protective hands of a father, the wise guiding hands of a teacher, the soft warm hands of a healer. The powerful hands of God who created us will cradle us.

When I have difficult times, God’s hands are the thing of beauty that I carry in my mind. I know when I reach out his hands are always there giving me a calming sense of security. I can grasp those hands through prayer and thanksgiving, through reading the scriptures, and through leading a Christian life. Even when we can’t feel God’s hands he is present in our lives. Isaiah 41:13 states, “For I am the Lord your God who takes hold of your right hand and says to you, Do not fear; I will help you.”

We are never alone. God’s hands hold us in a powerful yet gentle grip as we travel this life.

“Those who leave everything in God’s hands will eventually see God’s hand in everything,” — Tony Evans, Travis Greene