Pink Sky at Night, Pure Delight

The sunset yesterday was truly a masterpiece.  I was slogging down A St. when I noticed that the sky had turned into a flaming, billowing, mass of orange, blue and pink.  It snapped me out of my self absorbed focus and made me thank God for that glimpse of glory.  I wanted to pull the car over and just stare at the sun as it dropped behind the horizon.  It made me think of my creator, and how overflowing He is with His gifts.  He painted that marvelous masterpiece for all of Moscow to behold.  We didn't have to pay to see it.  We didn't do anything.  We just had to stop, look up, and revel in the glorious moment.  It was truly awesome.

It would have been so easy to miss.  If I had kept my eyes on the gray slushy road in front of me I might not have noticed that blaze of color hid behind the line of ugly apartments along the side of the street.  I could have stayed on task and hurried off to the mall to find the boots that Eden was dieing to purchase with her Christmas money.  I was, after all 20 minutes late in picking Karsten up at that point. I know that God will continue creating masterpieces every morning and every evening long after I leave this earth.  I just couldn't ignore all of that glory firing up the sky.  I knew it would only last a moment, and my lame attempt to capture it on my iPhone would be a pathetic representation.  I did my best anyway.  Just taking a moment every now and then to behold the majesty of God in the world that He has created really fills my soul with joy.  I am so fortunate to be able to see all of that beauty so freely given and know that my God loves to give beautiful gifts to His children.  He gives them to everyone who will stop and wonder at the beauty.  In those moments as I enjoyed the sunset with Eden and Soren I was filled with the awe and wonder of my Father in Heaven.

Today I am thankful for:

A sky that turns pink when a flaming gold orb rises and sets

Slush puddles that reflect the beauty above them

iPhone cameras to capture small glimpses of life

Fevers that slow children down and make them cuddly

White, slippery hills, that allow sheets of plastic to fly down them carrying laughing children

Fat, white snowflakes pouring out of clouds

Friends around the world bearing one another's burdens

Mountains rising above brown fields ribboned with blue rivers

Steam rising off of hot liquid, mingled with ice crystals falling from above

Lungs that take in air over and over