The sunrise has kissed another wonderful summer day awake with blue sky, bright white clouds, and hot sunshine. Oldest brother and I are enjoying the birds from our porch perches. We are jealous of dearest friend seeing a Baltimore oriole on one of her bird feeders this morning. The cardinals are quietly eating breakfast on the bird feeders and drinking from the bird baths. I’ve moved the bird baths to the shade but I bet the water is still bathtub warm. The fighting finches must feel faint because they’re sharing the feeder perches with each other and the cardinals, no loud fighting and flitting around this morning. Mr. Downy Woodpecker, dressed for church in his red beret and black and white checked sport coat, is happily perched upside down on the suet feeder getting a quick snack. A slight wind is cranking up the wind chime hymns as a fat little wren rears back and loudly practices his choir solo. As he sings from the porch bannister the bumblebees and a lone hummingbird get ready for church on the pink and white petunias.

Saw a beautiful little violet blue butterfly today, a fast furious flyer. Darted around the porch several times before I could get a good description. Looked it up in my Alabama butterfly guide and it’s a Spring Azure. So pretty with a flight pattern of curly cues and twists. Spring Azures are associated with royalty and elegance, love and mystery. Another little creature colored by God’s glorious paint brushes. The zinnias are full of butterflies tap dancing across the vivid blooms. I like to think of the butterflies as messengers from heaven reminding me Chief and Rosie are at peace and are sending me comforting rays of butterfly sunshine.

Proverbs 4:18 reads, “The path of the righteous is like the light of dawn, shining brighter and brighter until the full day.” I love this verse and wish I was an early riser so I could enjoy watching the sunrise kiss the day awake with her watercolored rays and warmth. When I was driving to work in Alexander City, I’d leave here at 4:30 AM and the sunrise always greeted me beautifully on the highway. As our faith grows we become brighter and brighter like the sunrise and more like Jesus. John 3:18 states, “Then spake Jesus again unto them, saying, ‘I am the light of the world: he that followeth me shall not walk in darkness, but shall have the light of life.’”

The dusk is so pretty tonight. I’m back on the porch and the sun is putting on her pajamas. She’s turned on her bright peach night light at the top of the giant oaks across the street, getting ready to lay her head down for the night. There are lots of clouds floating around so I know Mother Nature is putting paint on her palette, picking up her brushes from their Mason jars, getting ready to create another sunset masterpiece. I wonder what colors she’ll dip her brushes in tonight. Lots of cardinal dinner guests at my bird feeders as twilight spreads across the landscape. The cardinals are quiet and visit the bird bath for a drink before they leave. Counted 16 cardinals tonight, I know Chief sent them.

Psalm 104:19 reads, “He made the moon to mark the seasons; the sun knows when to set.” The sun has set and the pale blue sky is beautiful with random brush strokes of champagne pink across the heavens. God closes each day with a glorious painting of the setting sun from the watercolor brushes of Mother Nature. I was thinking if each day ended with darkness without a sunset, our hope of tomorrow would be shattered. The magnificence of the sun setting shows us the end can be as beautiful as the beginning. As the orange sun rolled down the horizon tonight she was serenaded by the night critter orchestra.

“Bring me the sunset in a cup,” Emily Dickson.

A beautiful sunset warms my heart and I feel Mother Nature watercolors the heavens as a gift, a reminder for me that God is in heaven and all’s right with my world. Psalm 65:8 states: “The whole earth is filled with awe at your wonders; where morning dawns, where evening fades, you call forth songs of joy.” I love what Mehmet Murat Ildan wrote, “Sunset is the opening music of the night.” When we watch a sunset we are silently thanking the sun for her light and warmth.

Today has been a beautiful day for me. What is your idea of a beautiful life, a beautiful day? I’ve learned to appreciate that life is fleeting and we’re not promised tomorrow. Life is a gift from God. You have to dare to explore your dreams of what you want your life to be. Don’t search for some life shattering moment to find happiness. Be content with your everyday blessings, enjoying the simple joys of life. Live life to the fullest and appreciate each day. When you’re knocked down stand back up and remember God sends a rainbow after every storm. Leonardo DaVinci wrote, “Once you have tasted the taste of sky, you will forever look up.”

“When we realize the shortness of life, we begin to see the importance of making every moment count.” — Dillon Burroughs