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This article is from Today's
Native Father, issue #139, July/August, 2005. Related articles from this issue: |
Rainbows in My Kitchen Dear Mothers, |
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I love rainbows. After a summer rain I will peer into the eastern sky for those brilliant colors that curve around and down. (Is there really a pot of gold at the end of the rainbow?) Do you know what sun dogs are? They are little pieces of rainbow that surround the sun when the weather has something special to announce. One time I was flying in a small airplane in northwestern Ontario. Much to my pure delight and amazement, full circle rainbows followed the wing tips most of the way home. Talk about vivid beauty!! It seemed to soak right into my heart. I felt honoured to have been given such a lovely display of God’s paintbrush. A number of years ago I watched a film Pollyanna. This young girl played the Glad Game. Pollyanna happily bounced into the lives of people who were grumpy and mean. People couldn’t help themselves! They soon were sociable, kind and happy. If you have seen this film, remember the rainbows? Remember how she saved the pieces of the lamp? She let the sun shine through them and beauty was all around. I have a few crystals like this hanging by thin threads in my south window. They gently swing around, back and forth in the sun. This morning I sat at my kitchen table during my quiet time and had the most lovely display before my eyes. The delight in my eyes reached my heart. As I glanced around my kitchen I had to smile because of the places where I saw a splash of color. Those crystals just don’t care where they spread beauty! It can be any place! I found several rainbows on the other side of my kitchen way up there, on top of the cupboards. Several landed nearby on my table, right on my prayer notebook. Some were lazily swishing around on the wall. Some were putting descriptive changes on my friends’ faces on the bulletin board. I don’t have any friends in real life with green skin, but there they were, laughing down at me. Sometimes a rainbow will land on my hus-band’s nose as he sits there, contentedly munching away at his noontime snack. I’ve even found one on the dresser at the top of the staircase! I love to admire their sparkle even when the dark-ness replaces the sun. They continue to collect energy from some kind of light source. They don’t spread rain-bows, but they still sparkle and shed beauty where they are, right where they are! This is a lesson for my own life. I see myself as that little crystal. The breezes of life make me sway to and fro. I go around in circles sometimes. But if Jesus is the “Sun” Who is shining through me, then beauty can be shed abroad in any place. I can’t stop it. I have no control where that rainbow, God’s love and beauty, will touch down. Isn’t that wonderful! But what if there is no sun outside? Then I collect the light that is around, and I can still sparkle. Now I know that Jesus is always with us, but you understand what I mean, don’t you? Sometimes life gets pretty dark, but one can still be beautiful. Others around me can continue to be encouraged by that little glitter and sparkle that is bravely shining forth. My husband, children and friends sprinkle sparkles into my life. I collect them in my bosom and hold them close, so lovely, so precious, so enriching, so grand! Those who have let the love of Jesus shine through them are often unaware, innocent of what joy and healing they are spreading to those around them. Suddenly, I can’t just keep collecting. I get this picture of the beauty that can shine through me. I get into the Son! There’s no telling where His loveliness will appear. I don’t think you’ll turn green, but it could land on your nose. So watch out! Sprinkling drops of joy and beauty, Ilva |
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