Sat outside today till the heat drove me back to my reading chair in the cool of my bedroom. The day was pretty and bright. The sun warmed my tomatoes and reddened them up. I picked a big tomato and marveled at the warmth of its skin as it rested in my palm. Wondered if the warmth was from God’s hand or the sun’s kisses. I can see Mother Nature’s watercolors in the beauty of the vibrant zinnia blooms. Not many butterflies or birds today. I filled up the feeders and cleaned the birdbaths and filled them. A handsome crimson cardinal sat on the edge of the birdbath enjoying the small solar fountain’s running water. He took several sips of water, laying his head back to let the cool water run down his throat.

Couldn’t help but cry as I sat in the swing and read stories from the Texas flood survivors. So sad to read of small children swept from their mother’s arms, their mothers knowing their children wouldn’t survive. Such heartache they’ll have for their lifetimes. I’ve been praying for the families and I know they will be living a nightmare till by the power of God’s grace they can learn to put one foot in front of the other to begin walking back into the sunshine of life. You never get over the death of a child, you just learn your own way of how to live with it. Please remember the flood victims in your prayers. Psalm 34:18 states, “The Lord is near to the brokenhearted and saves the crushed in spirit.” And pray for the volunteers and recovery teams as they search through mud and debris. I know that is debilitating work.

There is such anger and misery and heartache and depression and misunderstanding on God’s earth right now. I wonder sometime has the world has slipped off its axis and is spinning in the wrong direction. The fires, the floods, the shootings, the sickness, the anger, all cancers on a world that is full of misery. We can’t get along. We can’t turn the other cheek. We can’t agree to disagree. I honestly think God is trying to teach us a lesson, telling us to turn around and get back on the path of righteous. Psalm 106:3 states, “Blessed are they who observe justice, who do righteousness at all times!” James 3:18 reads, “And a harvest of righteousness is sown in peace by those who make peace.”

We can find comfort and reassurances of God’s grace during dark days in Isaiah 41:10. “So do not fear, for I am with you; do not be dismayed, for I am your God. I will strengthen you and help you; I will uphold you with my righteous right hand.” We are not alone when we struggle. God is present and his presence gives us strength and support. We need to pray for the world’s peace. We need to live with kindness and compassion for others, bringing others to God by our words and actions.

The sunset is glorious tonight, layers of pink and orange and yellow and mauve and purple watercolors brushed stroked across the horizon. Mother Nature’s artwork put a smile back in my heart that was aching. The sun looks like a new copper penny sliding down into the piggy bank of the horizon. The day has gone to bed and the lightning bugs are heralding the coming darkness.

“The heart will break, but broken love on.” — Lord Byron