It was the end of a long day, a never-ending week actually. My sweet little baby doll needed to go to bed. For that matter, so did I. I got her into her pj’s, laid her in her big girl bed and pulled the covers up tight. With pink bear wrapped in her arms and pink blankie firmly in her grasp she was ready for slumber.
But she said, “Wait mommy! Snuggie me. Sing, pwease” I didn’t realize we had begun a new bedtime routine. The night before she had convinced me to lay down beside her and sing a song. “You are my sunshine.” That’s her favorite right now. But tonight, I was not prepared for what would happen. I sang a verse, almost whispering, and when I finished my precious little girl put her hands on my face and sang the same back to me.
Of course I cried when I left the room. What mother wouldn’t?
The fact is on a week like the one we have had, I see dimly. I pull the shades and sit in the dark – even though there is bright sunshine all around. My heavenly Father has provided so much in my life to be grateful for and often, far too often, I live in the shadows.
Rays of His love have penetrated my life bringing glorious sunshine where it seemed there were only clouds. These were the rays of sunlight, in the middle of my week:
Mackenzie’s sweet tiny voice singing around the house, all day long.
Isaac’s infectious giggle and his smiling eyes.
Emily’s joy at making 100’s on her math and spelling tests.
Cupcakes that turned out perfectly.
An encouraging call from a far-away-in-distance, but close-in-my-heart friend.
My husband’s love, in the form of an all-weekend-long home renovation project.
Isaac brilliantly reading his very first reader alone.
Fresh bread.
A sparkling clean bedroom, the labor of my sweet Emily.(that was like double sunlight!)
Steady, cool rainfall after a very long, dusty dry spell.
Delicious aromas, coming from the crockpot for a tasty dinner.
Good coffee and even better conversation with a girlfriend.
And that is just the beginning of His goodness… because at the heart of it all, there is His love, wildly, generously providing my every need. His lovingkindness shines into every nook and cranny, and it brightens the far corner of every room. And even if there was only one thing on my list, it would still be so.
His son, the most vibrant of lights, brings salvation, forgiveness, freedom and a host of other good and gracious gifts. He alone on my list would be enough to brighten the darkest of days. But He heaps on more. Blessing after blessing. Mercies, never ceasing that call for songs of my loudest praise.
Thank you Heavenly Father, for this gift, for brightening my days with all of this sunshine. Help me to be forever grateful. I’m opening the shades, throwing back the curtains so that Your Son will fill my heart again. amen
Mackenzie, one of my little rays of sunshine.
daily portion 
Can I borrow her? she would make ANY rainy day fill like the sun was shining….