Now that the holidays are over the pretty lights are gone for another year. I leave my Christmas tree up as long as possible, so I can turn the lights on in the dark of the mornings when I get up at 5:30. I remember going to town when I was a child and being thrilled over the bright Saturday night lights.

When I lived in Iowa one year, my sister, nephew and I came home to Colorado on the train. In every small town there were beautiful Christmas lights. Two-year-old Jimmy, who was just learning to talk, was so excited over the "pity 'ights." Now when I see them I think of that cute little boy and his "pity 'ights."

Although I miss the Christmas lights when they are gone there are pretty lights that I have all year long. They are God's lights. This morning He put His light in the sky very early. The darkness was broken by streaks of crimson that began to filter through the Heavens. A little later God's greatest light, the sun came through. Colorado has so many days of sunshine sometimes I take it for granted, but I miss the sun sorely when the clouds cover that great light. Even in the cold the sunshine cheers me up.

The light of sunsets at dusk of scarlet, gold and purple over our dark Colorado mountains are a glory to behold. Then as the blanket of nighttime covers our world, God's lesser light, a big round moon or a butter colored slice of honeydew moon sails through the inky sky. The Big and Little Dipper and many other bright stars sparkle in the broad open expanse beside the moon. What a glorious array.

Summertime brings lights too. I love the fireworks that illuminate the sky on the 4th of July, but they cost so much and are so soon gone. God doesn't charge for his fireworks show.

One year I was in the hospital when a thunderstorm came up. As I lay on that hospital bed I was discouraged. My marriage was going under and my strength was low as I recovered from pneumonia. Life was as black as the sky and my world was full of shadows. The windows in the hospital room were large and when the lightning began, flashes streaked across the sky with startling intensity. I had never liked lightning, it scared me, but suddenly I was overwhelmed by the wonder of God's creativity and strength.

I was treated to a demonstration I've never forgotten as bursts of light lit up the swarthy sky in a more magnificent presentation than any fireworks or Christmas lighting. I knew if God was powerful enough to fill the Heavens with such brilliance He could take care of me and He always has.

That is the night that I started to realize that it is only when the black of night surrounds us that we can appreciate the gift of God's lights. Now I know that the dawn of morning always breaks through the dark.