I woke before the sun came up this morning. This has become my routine since adopting a Pomeranian puppy in June. Let me back up; it’s her routine to wake before the sun is up; she has merely changed my routine. And, for the the best, I might add.
While she’s frolicking in the garden, chasing little insects that dwell in the grass and beneath rocks, I take in the changing hues of the sky. Pinpoint stars twinkle like diamonds high above the earth’s canopy, the moon shines like polished pearl, a bright beacon in the wide, lonely expanse of darkness.
Far off flutter of red-tailed hawks’ wings ominously resurrect ancient fear of dangers that lurk in darkened shadows. My puppy perks her ears up, pauses, looks around, and listens with me. Together, we stand in the darkness and turn our eyes upward to the sound of the fluttering hawks’ wings, the gentle buzzing of bees, and the rustling of squirrels scampering from their hiding places in the grove of oak trees.
As if to ease our fears, God lifts the shadows of darkness and slowly fills the horizon with light. A slow shimmer of light spreads across the dark horizon, lightens to a pale gray, then pale pink, then soft blue and cottony white.
Light.
From the fear of darkness to the calming comfort of light.
Yellow roses in my garden come into view; sunlight shimmers along the golden petals. My puppy finds a stick, plops down and chews on it. I lift my eyes toward the gathering blueness of the morning sky and give thanks to God who always brings light, just as He has always promised He would do.
Words from scripture come back to me telling me not to be fearful, to not be afraid, that God is always with me, that Jesus is the light of the world, that joy comes in the morning.
Indeed, joy comes in the morning. Jesus is the light of the world. I am not afraid; I am not fearful because God is always with me. When my strength fails me; God will not fail me. He will protect me and be with me through out any darkness that I struggle to get through.
This morning, I watch the darkness change into the light.
No matter what goes on beneath the canopy of this earth’s sky, God is with us and we can rest in the truth that there will always be light after the darkness.
Jesus is the light of the world. Don’t be afraid. Don’t be afraid of the darkness. Don’t be fearful of what lurks in the shadows. Just call on Jesus to heal you, to protect you, to lead you from the darkness into the light.
Spend time in the early morning hours and watch the light gently gathering in the receding darkness and ponder God’s limitless love/
Jenny W. Andrews copyright 2023
Photography: Jenny W. Andrews copyright 2023
Jenny Grace's Poetry and Creative Writing Techniques 