The day is pictured perfectly as spring, robin’s egg blue sky sketched with fluffy luminous clouds. Wish I could record the bird symphony today. So loud and so melodious. Sounds like happiness. Claude Monet said, “I would like to paint the way a bird sings.” That’s my yard today, full of spring’s colorful songbirds chirping symphonies in praise for spring’s arrival.

I have a flock of goldfinches in my yard this morning. Most of the males have all their yellow feathers now, so handsomely dressed in their bright yellow sport coats. When they perch on a bird feeder by a male crimson cardinal, I see a box of bird crayons. The female finches are pretty with their muted colors of grayish brown and yellow, their backs highlighted with strokes of God’s yellow watercolors. A few chickadees and titmice are visiting today, too. One lone dove is prissing around in her pink high heels, bobbing her head as she searches for sunflower seeds. Fatty the squirrel is filling his cheeks with sunflower seeds, stopping briefly to pose for the bird camera. He is so vain. He’s posing on the edge of the bird bath now.

As my eyes scan the neighborhood I am amazed by the myriad of glorious colors proclaiming spring’s arrival. The greens of the landscape are so pretty, from the dark rich tones of the majestic magnolias to the chartreuse shades of the catkins falling from the old water oak. The spring sunsets of Mother Nature’s watercolors are vibrant in shades of red, orange, and purple or beautifully subdued in yellow, soft magenta, and shell pink. Tonight’s watercolor palette of sunset featured brush strokes of aqua and bubble gum pink. We are blessed that God chose to watercolor his creation. “He who placed the pearls in the ocean and the amethyst and chrysolite among the rocks is a lover of the beautiful,” Ellen G. White. Would be sad to live in a colorless world. God transformed the darkness for humanity to live in a joyful world, to be inspired by the colors of his creation.

RuPaul said, “Life is about using the whole box of crayons.” We have to embrace life with all its colorful emotions and opportunities. We don’t need to live a life of limitations. We can still color with a broken crayon just as we can enjoy life after heartache and challenges, just as we can find beauty in the stormy moments through our faith in the Lord. For a meaningful life we have to use all the crayons in the box and occasionally color outside the edges.

As I’m pondering on color in the porch swing, I see the little petunia plant on the bottom of my brick porch stairs. Determined little plant growing in a crack between the steps and sidewalk. Could not be good soil there. This little petunia endures the leaf blower, holds its head high, blooms full of its glorious self. Determination is the will to keep going no matter the roadblocks in the way. You never give up. Galatians 6:9 reads, “Let us not become weary in doing good, for at the proper time we will reap a harvest if we do not give up.”

When my grandson lost the use of his arms during an illness with acute disseminated encephalomyelitis his determination amazed me. Even before he started physical and occupational therapy he had already taught himself to get up if he fell down. He’d be a little inch worm and wiggle his way up. The therapists taught him the correct way to get up but he’d figured out his own way before their treatment started. Despite the difficulties he persevered and courageously regained the use of his arms. He was a very determined little fella and still loves a challenge now at 16 years old. When I was a child, learning to ride my unicycle, I definitely worked a lesson in determination, will power and persistence. I held on to the limbs of the row of chestnut trees that lined our yard by the street and rode from tree to tree till I mastered the unicycle. I was so proud when I finally let go and road down the street for the first time.

God wants us to be determined in our faith. God wants us to reach out for all the beauty and truth life has to offer, not being afraid to face the changes and challenges of day to day living. Joshua 1:9 counsels us to “be strong and courageous. Do not be afraid… for the Lord your God will be with you wherever you go.” God wants us to have a steadfast faith, to be determined when life is challenging, not wavering, relying on his strength and grace to ease our path.

“The difference between the impossible and the possible lies in a person’s determination.” — Tommy Lasorda