Another pretty blue sky, hot day. Tomorrow, September 22, is the first day of fall. Today was summertime, hot and humid, not a hint of fall at my house. I sat perched in the swing till the sweat rolled down my back watching a fat hummingbird feeding on my pink rose bush. Came in the house early afternoon to sit in my reading chair and cool off. Oldest brother came for a visit, said it was too hot to sit in the swings, so we sat in the sunroom and talked birds and college football. He had spent yesterday raking the leaves in his yard and driveway and they were back this morning. It’s so dry and hot, the leaves are just dropping to the ground without dressing in their colorful cardigans.

Mother Nature will soon pick up her watercolor palette and dip her brushes in the wondrous colors of God, painting fall cardigans on the leaves, dressing the mountains in their patchwork quilts of earth’s colors. Autumn’s palette is rich and warm and earthy. I love this time of year and look forward to nature’s illustrations. The leaves are missing dressing up in their fall frocks, dancing and twirling to the ground in their oranges and reds and purples and golds. They’ll drink up Mother Nature’s watercolors when she picks up her palette and brushes.

I went back on the porch after supper and sat in the swing at dusk, watching the sun set as a shimmering silver ball, burning the horizon pale peach and champagne pink. As the hot sun lay her head down in a bed of clouds, Father Sky singed his face when he bent down to kiss her goodnight. He turned off the day’s light and as the evening welcomed the darkness, hung a few twinkling stars in the navy sky canopy. The moon is still hidden from my view, sleeping under his cloud covers tonight.

My Florida friend sent me this quote today. “Just when the caterpillar thought her life was over, she began to fly,” Chuang Tzu. What a beautiful quote about the resilience of the human soul when we have God’s gift of hope for each day the sun rises. Some quote this sentence as, “Just when the caterpillar thought the world was over, it became a butterfly.” We can all be transformed by our faith after facing difficulties in life. We let nature take its course in the storms of life and as God’s holy light bathes us with grace we find we’ve grown from the adversity.

My Florida friend lost her husband a few years ago and we’ve grown closer as we navigate the world of widowhood. It’s such a blessing to have a friendship in faith with someone who understands and shares your joys and sorrows, someone who can also laugh at life’s adversity. Romans 12:55 reads, “Rejoice with those who rejoice, weep with those who weep.” Friendships are such a wonderful part of living and bring such happiness and joy into our lives. Conversations with someone who really knows you and thoughtfully listens to what you say is really a gift we should appreciate and be thankful for.

In times of adversity when we’re struggling through the challenges of this turbulent world we can turn to God for guidance and support. Psalm 44:1 states, “God is our refuge and strength, an ever-present help in trouble.” Confucius said, “The gem cannot be polished without friction, nor man without trials.” Life can be hard but we never walk alone when we’ve given our heart to the Lord. Even when we feel abandoned, God is close to us walking through the dark with us. Don’t be afraid to reach out to him. He’s strong enough to carry you and your burdens. Let your faith give you peace.

“Faith is a living, daring confidence in God’s grace, so sure and certain that a man could stake his life on it a thousand times.” — Martin Luther