I woke up this morning again to the “Frank, Frank” alarm sounding from the bamboo forest. A little research and I soon found out “Frank” is a squirrel’s sound for danger. We have six neighborhood cats who wander early mornings through the bamboo in the backyard, up the cement steps to the front yard. I guess the squirrel sits guard as a sentinel and sounds the alarm when a cat walks through the yard. He needs to be promoted, he’s sounds the alarm very well.

Father Sky sketched a pretty blue sky canvas this morning, drew a warm yellow sun, dotted his sky with lots of fluffy white clouds, their bellies darkened with rain. The day waned as the clouds melded together to become a cigar smoke colored sky. I watched for the different colors in the overcast sky to appear as the clouds pushed and pulled each other along, gathering in preparation to join the approaching storms’ clouds.

I tried my best not to be a porch potato today but I did spend most of the day perched in the porch swing listening to the birdsong symphonies. Occasionally a couple of bumblebees would fly through the porch and capture my and Penelope’s imagination. I pulled the old zinnia and sunflower stalks from my flower garden so the day was not completely wasted. Filled the bird feeders and bird baths and then retreated to the porch swings till dusk settled and dimmed the day’s light. Another beautiful day of spring awakening, darkened before the storms intrude on us this weekend.

Found a few quotes on my desk tonight written on my pile of junk mail envelopes. Mark Twain said, “It’s not the size of the dog in the fight, it’s the size of the fight in the dog.” I think Penelope helped him write that sentence. She’s just a little dog, a dachshund on chihuahua legs, but thinks she’s a giant Newfoundland. She can be ferocious when the UPS or FEDX trucks ride by. Barks at the mail man, too, and Mr. Ed just laughs and says, “She’s just protecting her mama.”

I love looking up at the night sky behind my house where the Man in the Moon sits on his luminous perch surrounded by twinkling stars. I have a little black block that sits on the top of my piano in my lady den that reads, “Perhaps they are not the stars, but rather openings in heaven where the love of our lost ones shines down to let us know they are with us.” This quote is an Eskimo Proverb. I love that thought! Always runs through my mind when I see the night heavens full of twinkling stars.

Martin Luther King, Jr. said, “Only in the darkness can you see the stars.” This is a powerful reminder that we can find hope through our faith in God’s Holy Light, faith that can light our path home, even in the darkest of times. Sometimes we have to face the crippling darkness of life’s trials and tribulations before we can appreciate the beauty and hope in the world. We’re reminded of our blessings when we suffer and reach for God’s hands of light and love. He helps us stand and start our walk back into the sunshine of our life’s journey.

As we think about the coming storms this weekend, planning where we’ll ride out the strong winds and heavy rains, remember this verse from Psalm 56:5, “When I am afraid, I put my trust in you.” God stands by us, his strength unwavering. Whether we’re weathering storms in our lives or storms of nature, we can be assured of God’s peace and guidance. In Isaiah scripture reads, “God will be a shelter and shade from the heat of the day, and a refuge and hiding place from the storm and rain.” We put ourselves in God’s hands and we’ll be safe from harm. Psalm 4:8: reads, “In peace I will lie down and sleep, for you alone, Lord, make me dwell in safety.”

God is our refuge and our strength, our safe place to go when we’re afraid. Psalm 91:3-4 reads, “He will cover you with his feathers, and under his wings you will find refuge; his faithfulness will be your shield and rampart.”

“Keep me safe, my God, for in you I take refuge.” — Psalm 16:1