“When I consider Your heavens, the work of Your fingers, The moon and the stars, which You have ordained, What is man that You are mindful of him, And the son of man that You visit him?” (Psalm 8:3-4 NKJV).

Purple is my favorite color.

Other colors cause me to pay attention, but nothing does it for me like purple. The Lord knows this about me.

Last week took me on an emotional roller coaster. My dad, who has been sick for weeks is finally getting better, but now my husband and mother are sick. Celebrating my grandson’s 4^th birthday was an emotional high mixed with a little sadness at how quickly time passes. Getting to their home for the celebration and then back to mine included an amazing encounter with “my” Jesus in which I experienced our relationship in a way I never have, feeling a closeness that was so sweet and intense. There were also so many trials with traffic as we crawled for hours, even mixed with rain and sadness at having to leave my daughter and her family on the return visit.

I am not on a pity party or trying to have company in my misery, because God has yet to leave my side or heart. I am simply setting up the significance of what happened after I arrived home.

I was emotionally and physically exhausted when I noticed through the window—Kevin did, too— that the sky looked purple. Every window I checked confirmed it. The sun was setting behind a 100% cloudy sky, but instead of a fully gray sky, it was purple! Of course, I had to go to the porch. There I found that, sure enough, the entire sky, except for one gray cloud, looked as if I was viewing it through purple-tinted glasses. But I wasn’t, and it wasn’t one of those skies that has a few purple clouds mixed with on-fire orange ones, or the pinks and purples that grace the horizon after the sun sets. Instead, the sky itself was washed in purple. I immediately felt washed in the overwhelming love of my Lord. I was totally enveloped in His intense love for me and immersed in His presence. Words fail to explain the intensity and effect!

Once again, I knew that no matter the circumstances going on around me or what I’ve been through, God is very aware of me and loves me with a love so great.

Purple. The whole sky except one cloud was purple. Crayon purple!

I want you to know that God loves you no less, and He is no less aware of you and what is going on with you and your prodigal.

And if God is doing such huge things to show His love for me, what is He doing in our prodigals’ lives to show them His great love for them?