I’m thinking this morning as I walk out on the porch that heaven is like a large front porch, welcoming and comfortable, a place where we meet with family as we enter heaven. We gather on our porches greeting each other just as we’ll have joyful reunions at the gates of heaven.

Four generations of my family have enjoyed this porch. To me a porch just conveys a sense of home. My family have all lulled our babies and grandbabies to sleep in the swings here, stolen kisses in the dark, caught toddlers by the seat of their diaper when they toddled over to the steps, been eaten alive by mosquitoes, played cowboys and Indians with cap guns, had water gun battles from the swings. My front porch has become my sanctuary. I’m so looking forward to the porch pondering days of spring and summer.

Beautiful blue sky this morning, clear and cloudless. Looked at the paint chart and decide it was cerulean blue. Probably qualifies as sky blue but that’s not an exciting descriptive color. I’m working on learning new color words. Old Man Winter is getting short of breath with spring hot on his tail. He banged the wind chimes today and kept the porch too cool to ponder. Oldest brother came over for a visit and we sat in the lady den instead of the porch swings.

Got excited when I saw the tiller on the trailer on the back of his truck. He was taking it to be serviced so we can get our gardens ready. I know it’s too early but those warmer days last week had me thinking about tomatoes and cucumbers and sunflowers and zinnias. I’ve got to get my garden spot raked and clean so he can till the soil. Lots of broken down sunflower stalks are covering the ground.

Sunset tonight was a glorious pageant of watermelon pink and hot orange wildfires blazing across the horizon, burning the tree silhouettes black as coal. Mother Nature rolled the sun down the horizon in a sterling silver gown, her prism rays forming a halo around her head. Father Sky, dressed in his grey linen suit, caught the arm of the sun and escorted her down the sunset steps. As he kissed the sun goodnight the day’s light was dimmed as dusk rushed across the landscape pulling the night’s darkness down. Father Sky rushed to wake the moon and hang the twinkling stars in the night sky. Day has ended and night has begun.

March is a hard month for me. The anniversary of my daughter’s death, Chief’s birthday, our wedding anniversary. I’ve had the doldrums today, Saturdays and Sundays seem to pass slower and make for more reflection. Weekdays pass so quickly. My mother-in-law always said Sundays were lonely. She missed her husband too.

Funny how something as simple as a phone call from a friend can transform the day. Was just thinking if you have friends you are never really alone. Friends support us, have our backs in good times and bad times. We share our intimate moments with those who know us best. When something unexpected or troubling happens close friends help us weather these storms. A little kindness and understanding from a close friend with no judgement call can bring sunshine on a cloudy day. Because of our friends, we laugh a little heartier, cry a little less, smile a lot more. This reads like I’m describing God as a friend.

I think we are friends with God. Jesus refers to his followers as “friends” in scripture. In John 15:15, Jesus says “No longer do I call you servants, for the servant does not know what his master is doing; but I have called you friends, for all that I have heard from my Father I have made known to you.” We trust and confide in God. Sharing our words and thoughts in prayer and thanksgiving brings us closer to God, helping us form a close personal relationship. God desires our fellowship and cares for us like our friends do. We are never alone when we have God as a confidant.

I love the hymn What a friend I have in Jesus — “What a friend we have in Jesus. All our sins and griefs to bear. What a privilege to carry everything to God in prayer. O what peace we often forfeit. O what needless pain we bear. All because we do not carry everything to God in prayer. Have we trials and temptations? Is there trouble anywhere? We should never be discouraged. Take it to the Lord in prayer. Can we find a friend so faithful who will all our sorrows share? Jesus knows our every weakness. Take it to the Lord in prayer.”

Isaiah 41:10 says, “Fear not, for I am with you; do not be dismayed, for I am your God. I will strengthen you, I will help you, I will uphold you with my righteous right hand.” Jesus helps us carry our burdens and our sins. He listens to our prayers, comforts and supports us. What a friend we have in Jesus.

“When your best friend is God, you are never alone.” — http://www.idlehearts.com