The Refuge

On a cold winter’s evening, the sun sets and leaves the house in thick darkness.  It is enough to make my young mind uneasy.  It is nights like these that I am glad that I have a place of refuge, in the kitchen in front of the warm morning stove on my Grandfather’s lap as he sits in his rocking chair.  I have found this to be my place of refuge for the uncertain nights in my life. 

          I feel safe snuggled up on my Grandfather’s lap.  His strong arms around me make me feel so safe.  The smell of his aftershave gives off the sweet smell of summer’s days, gone by.  Here with him makes the dark winter seem so much farther away.

          The rocking chair we sit in is made strong and simple giving it the feel of home.  The swishing sound it makes as we rock gives off such a gentle soothing rhythm.  It seems to erase my worry, as I concentrate on the back and forth motion my mind is put at ease.  It gives me such a care free feeling like being on a carousel.  It is my own private ride that carries me to a very safe and comforting place.

          I start to feel the warmth from the stove on my cheeks.  It’s as if it is kissing away all my worries and cares.  I start to focus on the yellow/orange flames as they dance within the stove.  They bring brilliant light and warmth with their every movement.  It’s as if it is a special dance just for me.  I can’t help but smile after looking upon such a beautiful dance, oh no their dance has not been in vain. 

          This night like the many before and the many after will take my worried mind to a more beautiful and worry free place that will see my through yet another time of darkness in my life.  Spending these worrisome winter evenings in my favorite place of refuge makes the darkness not seem so thick and scary.  It not only gets me through many though times, but it leaves behind some wonderful memories for me to carry through out the rest of the winters in my life.  This refuge will always be my refuge even if only in my memory.

Time

          
We see time as and endless commodity, there to use as we see fit.  As we use it we never look into the future thinking about time and how much it can mean to us.  We live as if we have an endless supply of time to use as we see fit.  When in reality time and how much of it we have are not in our control.  We are to use it wisely and live each day as if it is our last.  In doing so this would change the way we live and the way we handle time? 

            I look back at the time I was a child growing up and I don’t remember ever thinking about time and how much of it that I might have.  I was to busy learning about and enjoying my surroundings to think about time and what it really meant to me.  But as time has past and I have seen time get away from other people I realize how very important every minute is.  Watching my mother as she used what little time she had left has left a lasting impression on me.  I realize that at any moment my time can be limited by disease or tragedy. That just because I don’t think about a limit for my time doesn’t mean that it is limitless.  I try to stay very aware of each moment and how very valuable it is. 

            As I face each new day I try to focus on the blessings of life.  I try not to take any of them for granted, not even the littlest things for even they reflect the face of God.  In staying focused on the Heavenly thing I don’t get entangled in the things of the world as easily.  And I don’t take time for granted as much when I am using my time to bask in the creation around me, realizing that God’s art is the most inspiring art of all its in it that I like to spend my time.

            Time marches on and we can not stop it, but we can use it wisely.  If we see it as the blessing it is and cherish it as we should, who knows how much time we may be given to enjoy.  Lord, help me to be a good steward of the time you give me.