The sun was so beautifully bright this morning you could almost see its yellowness on the landscape. I gave all my vegetables, growing in the large pots, a gallon of water. As I talked to them, praising their beauty, thanking them for the vegetables, I could almost hear them thanking me for the water. The squash and cucumbers were almost fainting and they raised their large leaves in thankful prayer. The sun has been brutal the last few days. As I watered the vegetables I marveled at the color palette of the tomatoes in various ripeness. The green tomatoes are so pale and pretty from lemon-lime and chartreuse shades to an emerald green. If my kitchen wasn’t so hot, I’d fry some of the green tomatoes, so delicious.

I took vet brother two large ripe tomatoes when I went to get Penelope and Kat their monthly flea pills. As I waited for the freight train to pass, I picked up one of the tomatoes and listed in my mind all nature’s colors I could see. Where the tomato had clung to the vine I could see Mother Nature and God’ brush strokes in greens and oranges and yellows and reds and pinks. It’s rounded ripe belly was a perfect Crayola red. I think tomatoes’ colorings are beautiful works of art.

Found some tomato quotes in my reading. Miles Kingston wrote, “Knowledge is knowing the tomato is a fruit. Wisdom is not putting it in your fruit salad.” Never knew why a tomato is classified as a fruit. Today I learned why. A tomato develops from the fertilized ovary of a flower and contains seeds making them scientifically identical to fruits. Cucumbers and squash are fruits, too. So guess I have a fruit garden instead of a vegetable garden. “A world without tomatoes is like a string quartet without violins,” Laurie Colwin. Nothing is better than a homegrown tomato sandwich on white bread.

As I grow older the simple things in life seem to be more important to me. Every day ordinary experiences bring joy to my life. A good hot cup of coffee with creamer, the melodies of a wind chime, a beautiful sunset, a cherry icee, song birds around the feeders, the happy laughs of precious grandchildren, spending time with my sons and daughter-in-law, a fruit jar of sweet tea, a letter in the mailbox. I don’t think we appreciate all the small moments in life as we should. A single day filled with life’s simple pleasures, that we commonly take for granted, can bring us so much happiness “Happiness cannot be traveled to, owned, earned, worn or consumed. Happiness is the spiritual experience of living every minute with love, grace, and gratitude,” Denis Waitley

“If it doesn’t bring you love, peace, or positive energy, stop engaging with it. Simple as that.” Read that last night and it’s stuck in my head. Can’t attribute the quote to anyone but I think it’s good advice. Bet God has said that to a lot of us, including me. How many of us are dragging things around that don’t bring us love or peace. We’re so used to carrying them around we don’t even realize they are dragging us down and stealing our peace. It’s hard to let go of things we feel safe and comfortable with even when we know they are taking the positivity and sunshine from our lives.

People are meant to be loved but people don’t always love us back. People want to be needed but selfishly their needs don’t always bring love to the relationship. It’s hard for us to scale down our circle of people but sometimes that’s best and will bring us a sense of peace when we focus on the ones who bring us joy and contentment. Stop engaging in people and things that don’t bring light to your life. The world has enough of its own darkness without us causing dark clouds in our own skies.

Know anyone who just makes you feel better to be around them? Their positive energy can turn the day around. Saint Francis of Assisi wrote, “A single sunbeam is enough to drive away many shadows.” How true! We need to strive to be a sunbeam in the cloudy days of our family and friends. God will always be a light in our lives. Sometimes it’s hard to see the light but if we keep on praying and believing in God’s grace we’ll eventually see the light of his grace.

Micah 6:8 tells us how God wants us to live. “He has shown you, O man, what is good; and what does the Lord require of you but to do justly, to love mercy, and to walk humble with your God.” As God said, our lives should be governed by justice, kindness, and humility. We should always treat people as we want to be treated, fairly and respectfully. Your love and faith can be a beacon of hope for others.

“Spending time with God through prayer and his word is a prerequisite for having a great life and fulfilling your purpose.” — Joyce Meyer