A Sunrise Relationship Connection

“Grandpa at what time will we see the sun?”

“Well Grandson, it depends where we are standing.”

The grandson blew into his cupped hands, then asked, “What do you mean?”

“You see, if you stand far from the mountains, like we are now, we’ll see the sun sooner. But, if we were at the base of those mountains, we won’t see the sun until it cleared their peaks.”

“But Grandpa, Nana said that the sun rises at the same time.”

Grandpa patted his grandson on the head, chuckled and then responded, “Nana is right. The sun rises at a specific time every day. But if a mountain is right before us, it will block the sun from our sight.”

“Oh, I see.” The grandson cuddled in his own coat as the Alaska’s cold, morning air touched his skin. He then releases a deep sigh.

“What thoughts are you wrestling with, grandson?”

“I was wondering, if the reason why my parents can’t see God like we do, is because of where they are standing.”

His grandpa wraps his arm around the Grandson’s shoulders, “You are wise for an eight-year-old.”

“Grandpa, you’re the wise one, for you bring me out here where God teaches man about him and ourselves.”

“How did you arrive to this conclusion?”

“By watching and listening to you.”

“Hmmm.” Grandpa remain quiet for a while before releasing a deep breath.

The grandsons watched the cloud of breath float up and reshaped itself until it vanished from sight.

“Grandpa, did you just tell God a prayer?”

“I did.”

“What did you pray for?”

“That you and I will have many more mornings to witness the sunrise. And, for you to keep reminding me of the important things one must do. I also asked the Lord to help me stand where I will always see God so that He can shine through me.”

“I will ask the same things.” The Grandson released three puffs of breath and watched them transformed shapes as they floated to the heavenly sky. “Grandpa, the sun!”

Grandpa moved away from the rail, took the keys of the truck out of his pocket and told his Grandson, “the sun rays have spread making this Grandpa and Grandson connection time, extra special. Now let’s go to the mountains and explore.”

Tuesday Photo Challenge by Dutch goes the Photo ~ Connections

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Like A Painting The Sun Shines

When your soul desires to be alone at sunrise

One must layer like the colorful sky

But with clothes to survive Alaska’s freezing mornings

And carry hot coffee in a thermos container.

Dutch Tuesday photo challenge

 

Heaven’s Morning Visit

In late November
Above the Cook inlet
Between mountain’s ranges
Heavenly light makes its entrance
Spreading Hope for all souls to see

What Matters

Grasp with the heart

the things

hands can’t contain

On My Dark and Gloomy Mornings

Have you ever woken up miserable?

Where loneliness robed the feeling of “I’m forgotten?” When love is coldly foreign? When yesterday’s troubles play its death song and your feet march to its tempo as you go from the bed, to the bathroom, to the sofa?

Do you understand what I mean?

Well, let me give you one more description.

At the start of the day, yesterday’s burdens surface, chest concave, shoulders fall forward and chin lands on your chest. Before you know, your shoulders are greeting your knees. You lift your head slightly and the gym is nowhere in sight. It is then when you know, you are not stretching your limbs for your benefit. Unable to take a deep breath you sink lower dreading the day.

Yet, somehow, we must carry on with duties, responsibilities and live with a grateful heart. Really? Honestly? Let’s be real here. How?

I don’t know about you, but for me, that’s when light, movement or color captures my attention. It normally comes from low on the horizon or off the ground. Maybe because that’s where I’ve aimed my view.

Well, because of my state of mind, hurting heart or heavy soul, I don’t straighten up. I actually lower myself even more, to the point where I could hug my legs. It is then when I take a picture or two and something begins to shift inside of me.

The first change I notice happens in my thoughts, my focus is not on yesterday at all, it’s on the now, on what I’m seeing. Slowly my chin lifts off my chest.

Second thing which changes me, is an unexplainable joy. It begins to drip inside my heart. Each drop heals hurts, calms pains, clears my sight from worries and concerns. It is then when my posture begins to straighten and I look beyond myself.

Last, my surroundings remind me of truths; of priceless fortune, sparkling value and important significance. These truths mend my torn soul. Soon my shoulders are back and I smile because, I know, I matter.

But, I couldn’t have the changes happening in me if I couldn’t see the light, the movement and the color. But even if I didn’t notice these things, I wouldn’t know that I matter, if I didn’t believe on the truths of my own worth.

As long as I am alive, I have something to give to someone. I can hug, kiss, smile or speak a kind word. And if the day comes when I can’t do any of these, I pray that my face will remind anyone of what I use to be, do and give.

When, I’m at my lowest, I will continue to look for the light, movement and color. For they reveal a unique design outside and inside of me. Both perspectives point to riches for us to always seek.

May you find light, movement or color to remind you of your worth and significance. For you matter to me. Hugs and kisses. 😊

 

Always On Time ~ Sunrise

On some winter
Alaskan mornings
During nautical twilight
I sit, wait and watch the sky

Gray, white clouds
Reshape themselves
Gliding apart like smoke
From an unseen chimney

As civil twilight
Lights up the heavens
My heart anticipates
What is yet to be seen, color

With great assurance
The sun rises on time
Painting the sky, the clouds
The water, the ice before me

Happiness and glee
Spreads for all to see,
To receive and to believe
I then go to live out a dream

Not Ready For The Holidays

When I take a photo like this one, I know it will speak to me later at some appointed time. Today was that time for it stirred my soul.

The reflecting colors of the morning sun relaxed my soul to the point that I could hear my heart. It brought joy and happiness and contentment. But there was more and I had to quiet my mind to hear my heart and find out why I wasn’t ready for the Holidays.

You see, I love Thanksgiving just as much as Christmas time because my children would come home. it matter not that they weren’t all present at the same time. Their different path didn’t allow them. During these holidays families everywhere take time to cross paths and we did the same. We came together and shared our lives. Was it all happy and full of joy, nope.

Differences will exist no matter how tight and blessed a family maybe. Issues did surface. Respect is what one must work on when people don’t see eye to eye. Which is difficult to give when one doesn’t feel accepted for who they are or valued. And, it is difficult to give when beliefs or ideals are not the same. The challenge is not how to get along while in the same house, but how to stay in touch when they all go their separate ways.

You know why I’m not ready for the Holidays? Because I’m going to miss out on the differences that my family would have brought home. I’ve learned, their differences expand my heart and broadened my perspective. Their paths have led them where I yet to go. They’ve seen what I yet to see and they have felt what I yet have felt. Not because I might not have been in those actual places, but I haven’t with them.

The telling that I will miss, is not in words, but in their eye twinkle, their lip curled, their hands jesters when they do speak or not say a word. It’s the energy they release in the room or when they see you. Whether it is positive or negative, it is still family and one knows where that person heart is at and how to care for them.

Then there’s the physical touch that does wonders to our souls. It sends messages that words can never describe. the presence of another person in the room or the holding of hands, or an embrace, melts differences away at least for that time. One must feel safe and not be judged to be real.

I will miss, the real moments of my family.

Plus, I will not experience the emptiness that is left when they are all gone. It’s in the emptiness that gratitude is intensified. This year, emptiness arrived early. My children will celebrate with other family members and/or friends. Only one child will be present at each Holiday. I’m grateful for this blessing.

Am I sad, no, not really. This is life and I will find the most from where I am. But I will miss out on the quietness in my heart after they all have returned to their own paths.

Like the reflection of the colors on this photo, I smile today out of gratitude for the reflections of the previous holidays, which I have much to be glad about. As for my children, they are on their path and will have many different experiences which they will tell me about next time we meet.

For now, I’ll enjoy the memories, like a good glass of wine and watch the sunset.

 

 

Morning Light

Morning Light is welcomed  by a morning lover,

As for others the morning sun is just a bother.

To me? Well, it depends on my mindset or my waking mood.

But, if I pray as I wake, then I’m more than just good.

I’ll be flying high on cloud nine for the whole entire day.

Before I sleep, I ask the Good Lord to remind me to pray, when I wake.

A photo a week challenge ~ Light 

Lately it has been difficult to sit and write my stories. Life has thrown many curves and I’m trying to stay sane.

Thank God for those who challenges us to write anything by using a word, a photo or two.

As for my stories, I need to pray for inspiration to pick up where I left them and finish at least on of them.

Will you join me and pray for me? Thank you.

How can I pray for you?

Woke-Up With A Song

“God is my strength, God is my song, and, yes! God is my salvation.”

Exodus 15: 1-8

“Then Moses and the Israelites sang this song to God, giving voice together,

I’m singing my heart out to God—what a victory!
    He pitched horse and rider into the sea.
God is my strength, God is my song,
    and, yes! God is my salvation.
This is the kind of God I have
    and I’m telling the world!
This is the God of my father—
    I’m spreading the news far and wide!
God is a fighter,
    pure God, through and through.
Pharaoh’s chariots and army
    he dumped in the sea,
The elite of his officers
    he drowned in the Red Sea.
Wild ocean waters poured over them;
    they sank like a rock in the deep blue sea.
Your strong right hand, God, shimmers with power;
    your strong right hand shatters the enemy.
In your mighty majesty
    you smash your upstart enemies,
You let loose your hot anger
    and burn them to a crisp.
At a blast from your nostrils
    the waters piled up;
Tumbling streams dammed up,
    wild oceans curdled into a swamp.” msg

*****

Often when I wake, I wake with a song.

I rise and sing to my God who gives me strength.

He is my song in spite how my days may start.

 

To Restart Is It A Redo?

When a new day comes, we can’t honestly restart our life?

Things we’ve started, then stop or quit and go back to attempt to do again, doesn’t mean we return to  the exact place where the plan began.

Wait a minute, did the question, “What is she talking about?” dart through your mind?

Think about it for a minute, maybe a bit longer, speaking literally no one can really restart to the beginning of anything, unless they go back in time.

A restart, refers to going to where one was and redo what one did with the assumption of what has been done will now work.

But why redo something, unless it wasn’t good enough in the first place.

Anyway, one can’t go back to the beginning and start from scratch because, we, you and me, have gain knowledge and experience and the formula has actually changed.

All I’m trying to say is, a restart is actually a new beginning at a different time and place in the future.

When you wake don’t return to your old ways. Instead, begin the day with a new start not a restart.