Dodinsky said, “Today fill your cup of life with sunshine and laughter.” I love this quote and my life has been full of warm sunshine and laughter today. Had a busy morning with errands, lunch with friends, phone call from my bosom budddy, and a glorious rest of the day perched in the porch swing enjoying the singing songbirds. The American goldfinches were all over the feeders, beautiful little birds, symbols of joy and positivity. They are serious vegetarians and rarely eat an insect. The males are beginning to dress in their crayon yellow sport coats, the females gowned in olive velvet dresses with striped black and white sleeves, enjoying the migrating gossip. The goldfinches are gregarious and loud, woke me up this morning with their symphonies of “po-ta-to-chip.” They make a pack of crayons when they perch on the feeders with the cardinals and raspberry finches.

Went out to eat Sunday night with my son and his family. The sunset was beginning to color up and the sky was filled with migrating cranes loudly trumpeting. Our little family all looked up in wonder enjoying the gift of migrating wildlife, watching the cranes, taking photos, marveling at the sunset’s beautiful watercolors. The parking lot was full of families and no one gazed upward but us, no one was interested in what we were photographing. That moment made me sad that the families, specially those with children, didn’t stop and watch the cranes flying across the dark blue heavens, letting a glorious gift from God go unnoticed. Sad. “Keep a growing tree in your heart and a singing bird might come,” Chinese proverb.

I’m thinking maybe those folks didn’t have a green tree in their heart, a welcoming space in their hearts to feel joy and happiness from the wonders of God’s creation. My sweet family and I stood there till all three V-shaped formations flew by. We were thrilled by the beauty of the moment. The green tree proverb reminds us to keep our heart positive and open and good things will naturally flock to us. A green tree heart nurtures gratitude and that brings joy into our lives.

I watched Mother Nature run wild with her watercolor brushes at sunset. She dressed the sun in a pageant gown of bright white and sent her down the pale blue horizon on the arm of Father Sky. As the couple stepped off the sunset stage she quickly began painting a dark apricot wildfire that blazed up quickly and burned out under brush strokes of pale pink and berry blue. As the twilight dimmed its magical light Mother Nature touched her brushes to her palette and began to deepen the pinks and blues and purples and mauves till the darkness took over the landscape. Father Sky tucked the sun in her clouds and went to wake Mr. New Moon who was hiding too close to the sun to be found. He’s not working tonight so the twinkling stars took center stage showing off their diamond tiaras. The day has ended, the darkness has waked the night.

Psalm 19:1-6 reads, “The heavens declare the glory of God; and the firmament sheweth his handywork.” We look to the sky and the heavens and see the glory of God’s creation. Just like an artist God has painted a glorious masterpiece. Ecclesiastes states “God makes all things beautiful in their proper time.” I saw a pale purple butterfly this afternoon and watching it flutter around the yard, I marveled thinking of the kaleidoscopic of beauty on our earth. God could have given us a world of black and white but he wanted his children to dwell in a landscape of color. Plant that “green tree” in your heart and enjoy life in all its colorful wonder.

“When we are aware of God’s beauty in the world around us, and when we take time to enjoy simple pleasures that brighten our day, we experience a joy and delight that feeds our soul.” — Victoria Osteen