Some dear family friends stopped by this afternoon. We haven’t seen each other in many years but we took right back up like we’d never been apart. Enjoyed their porch visit so much! Sad that some of us don’t see out of town family and friends except at weddings and funerals. The world just spins so fast and time flies by. We need to do better keeping our family and cherished friends close.

Watched the sun set after supper, sitting in the swing, enjoying a cup of hot coffee, counting my blessings of family and friends. Mother Nature painted an overcast quilt on the horizon in pale hued clouds of grays and whites and blues and purples. The sun lay her head down in the warmth of her yellow rays, slowly gathering the gray bellied clouds about her. Father Sky kissed the sun goodnight and waked the new moon. He pinned the moon in the night sky heavens and studded the sky canopy with bright stars, hung around Mother Nature’s neck like a twinkling diamond necklace. So pretty to see in the gloaming of the day. We truly live in a beautiful world.

Scripture describes stars as testaments to God’s power, as symbols of hope and guidance. Genesis states God made the stars, counting them and giving them names. Psalm 8:3 reads, “When I behold your heavens, the work of your fingers, the moon and the stars, which you have set in place.” This scripture makes me see God touching the heavens as he set the stars in place, illuminating them like jewels.

Light shines brightest in the darkness. John 1:5 reads, “The light shines in the darkness, and the darkness has not overcome it.” The stars are billions of years old and when we look up in the dark heavens and see the small twinkling stars we see hope in the light of the stars. God sends his light of love when darkness surrounds us. The stars are only visible in the darkness of night but like God’s love they are always surrounding us.

Hope might look like the night sky, small pin lights giving us courage in the darkness. When darkness covers us we need to remember that darkness cannot extinguish the light of Jesus. In John 8:12 Jesus says, “I am the light of the world. Whoever follows me will not walk in darkness, but will have the light of life.” God shines the brightest during the storms of our lives. When we’re grateful for the blessings in our lives we can become a light for others when their world becomes dark.

In Matthew 5:16 God tells us to “let your light shine before others, that they may see your good deeds and glorify your Father in heaven.” We need to shine our light and serve others. Do our best to live each day in a way that’s pleasing to God. Be a beacon of light in this troubled world and light the way to God’s love with graciousness and compassion.

“Even in our darkest days, God’s peace is as a golden light continually shining on us.” — Unknown