Blessings and Light – Guest Post By MARY DAHL

I awoke gradually at 3:15 a.m.  I thought it was from the usual nocturnal nudge by my kidneys to head down the hallway.  Yet, something else was nudging me.  My bedspread was awash in the glow from my window.  I glanced out, already knowing the generous source.

The full moon was high in the sky in all her glory.  I heard her speak loudly in a beckoning language, begging me to put on my glasses, so I did.  She said, “Behold my magnificence in reflecting the sun’s light to illuminate the darkness just for your eyes while the rest of the world is still.  Come and play, enjoy the show.”  I glanced around awestruck by the power of that light and the stunning revelation that resulted.  Shadows were cast by fence posts, pine trees, branches creating a painting in the contrasting white of the snow.  I admired this surreal canvass for a long time, resting my elbows on my jewelry armoire, smiling in thanks.  When I grew weary I removed my glasses and headed back to bed.

Before falling back to sleep I thought of days gone by when I had been comforted by that same moon.  Sleepless nights rocking a sick child, restless nights wandering in our country yard during a troubled marriage, reassuring nights around a campfire with a new blended family.  This celestial body had come a long way from providing a distraction from my useless worries to reassurance of wellness, a reminder to just savor the wonder that the sunshine provides 24/7.  Day or night, that light is always there to guide us back to where our souls need to be…to love and simplicity.  Even during those times when clouds obscure those heavenly symbols, we can close our eyes and summon them into our imaginations, visualizing the magic that they bring.

 I was glad to be awakened in the middle of the night for my private viewing.  The silence and serenity of the moment didn’t even stir my dog.  Yet, as I gazed out the window it made me happy to know that although I was alone in the experience, I am not the only receiver of the gifts the skies bring.  Nature is generous in presenting herself to all humans that care to notice.  We just have to be open to seeing the good.

Thank you Mary for sharing this insight with us. We all need to be reminded from time to time that the beauty and blessings are in our lives each and every day. We must simply open our eyes and hearts to them.

From her National Wildlife Federation Certified Wildlife Habitat sanctuary in Western New York Mary shares emotional and mental wellness through the power of words, love, human connection and nature.  She lives the quote from Hafez of Shiraz, “I wish I could show you when you are lonely or in darkness, the astonishing light of your own being.” Mary is a writer, founder and emotional and mental health wellness practitioner. She can be contacted via her website Capture Life Writing.