Been content and happy today setting the dining room tables for my family’s Christmas dinner. Some days when my cup runneth over I think the day could be perfection personified if I could see Chief walking up the sidewalk. I set his place card by my place setting and put Rosie’s place card on the table where her brothers sit. My home just lends itself to Christmas with its tall ceilings and orchid color walls.

Today was a carbon copy of the last few days, vanilla overcast sky but beautiful in its layered clouds. Late afternoon the sun burned off a few clouds and peeked her golden rays through for a few moments. She was surrounded by pools of gray and blue and white clouds that quickly gathered, closing the sun’s window on the world. I took Penelope on her last walk of the day and the night sky was so beautiful, a deep dark purple dotted with twinkling diamonds. Father Sky had not waked Mr. Waning Gibbous Moon but he’ll be waked shortly and take center stage on the night sky canvas.

Been missing my sunsets in their glorious muted shades at eventide. Thought about this quote that was sent to me by a friend. “Painting is the silence of thought and the music of sight,” Orhan Pamuk. This is a wonderful expression of artistic talent if you ponder on it. Sunsets excite my heart every afternoon, even when the colors are quiet pale shades, I’m thrilled by its beauty. I’m in awe of God and Mother Nature’s watercolors every day at dusk, knowing each day a different painting will be created. And not watching the sunsets doesn’t phase Mother Nature or Father Sky. They express their love of colors with no embarrassment.

I imagine tonight’s pageant at sunset, seeing the sun dressed in a formal gown of pale colored chiffon. Gossamer layers in blushing turquoise, pink, and gold fan out as she walks down the horizon stage, covering the sky in wondrous pale hues of cotton candy. Father Sky kisses the sun good night and as she turns the day’s light out waking the night, he tucks her matching candy cloud covers around her and walks off hurriedly to hang the opal moon, to scatter the diamonded jewels in the night sky.

I think God’s holy light radiates in the colors of the sunset. Jesus said in John 8:12, “I am the light of the world. Whoever follows me will never walk in darkness, but will have the light of life.” God is the light of life in our hearts. Don’t use God’s light like a porch light, turning on God’s light only when you need it to guide your way in a storm. I was guilty of that for many years, only praying when I had a need. Never praying prayers of thanksgiving for my blessings that were bestowed on me. Now when I wake each day, I give thanks for another day on this beautiful planet. God’s light radiates in our hearts and through our words and actions we can help draw others to the warmth and love of God’s holy light.

I read a quote on Facebook that said “maybe all those stars are porch lights in heaven, waiting for our loved ones to come home.” I love that thought. Ray Bradbury wrote “Heaven is a house with porch lights.” Maybe we can think of God as being our porch light, a light that protects us from the darkness in the world, a light that tethers us to our home, a light that symbolizes welcome and hope. God’s light shows us the correct path to travel through our life, points toward our destination and helps direct our steps. It’s comforting to know God never turns off his porch light. It always shines brightly, like a lighthouse beacon, to show our way home to him. His light never dims.

“When you keep the porch light on for the prodigal child, you do what God does every single moment.” — Max Lucado