Bright

December 2, 2021

“Three gifts bright;” that’s today’s gratitude prompt. I looked at the forecast this evening, and if the weatherman is correct, we won’t be free of overcast skies until the middle of the month. I guess we should be used to it by now; but it makes me very thankful for the bit of sunshine that graced our skies this afternoon. It gave way to a drizzling rain by dusk, but living in Western New York, I’ll take every bit of sunshine we can get.

They are harder to see during the day, but when darkness falls, the lights on our Christmas trees (you read that right—it’s plural) shine all the brighter. They help lighten our hearts.

What shines brightest however, is the future. Too many look around and see only doom and gloom. It’s easy to do; media is forever pumping out disaster and fear. The newsroom adage is true: “If it bleeds, it leads.” “Husband and Wife Still Love Each Other After 50 Years” doesn’t make the news, although these days, it’s unusual enough that it should.

Tough times are ahead; if the pundits weren’t saying it, our faith does. Trouble and tribulation are promised us, not comfort and ease. This world we live in will end in fire and smoke, according to Peter and John. Jesus himself spoke of great trials to come, but he also promised to be with us through them, and that beyond the trouble there is a future bright with peace, health, joy, and love. The Bible gives mere hints, but those hints are enough for us to be confident: the future is bright with hope for all who trust in Christ.