WEBVTT - A Summer Night Beneath Twinkling Lights

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<v Speaker 1>Welcome to Abides Sleep Meditations. I'm Tyler Boss. Today's meditation

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<v Speaker 3>and body as we hear tonight's sleep story.

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<v Speaker 2>Hello and welcome to this sleep story from Abide. I'm Melissa.

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<v Speaker 2>Thanks for joining me for our story a summer night

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<v Speaker 2>beneath twinkling lights. In this sleep story, you'll hear about

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<v Speaker 2>the joy that summer can bring through descriptive vignettes, a

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<v Speaker 2>summer psalm and encouragement for all who feel therein a

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<v Speaker 2>summer drought. Jeremiah chapter seventeen, verses seven and eight says,

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<v Speaker 2>but blessed is the one who trusts in the Lord,

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<v Speaker 2>whose confidence is in him. They will be like a

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<v Speaker 2>tree planted by the water that sends out its roots

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<v Speaker 2>by the stream. It does not fear when the heat comes,

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<v Speaker 2>its leaves are always green, It has no worries and

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<v Speaker 2>a year of drought, and never fails to bear fruit.

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<v Speaker 2>God's love and provision is plentiful in every season. The summer, however,

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<v Speaker 2>tends to be a little more dramatic about it. With

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<v Speaker 2>splashy flowers of every color, the opportunity to be outside,

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<v Speaker 2>and the warmth of the sun, we often feel more

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<v Speaker 2>playful and light. Let's not forget these lazy summer days

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<v Speaker 2>and summer nights under the stars. There is so much

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<v Speaker 2>beauty and abundance. Of course, there are also challenges, such

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<v Speaker 2>as drought and dryness. It can be a time when

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<v Speaker 2>more tending and cultivation is needed, both in our garden

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<v Speaker 2>and are inner self. As you rest and listen, you

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<v Speaker 2>will hear encouragement for the sun scorched places, as well

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<v Speaker 2>as celebration of the bountifulness of summer. The vignettes include

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<v Speaker 2>the sounds and bounty of summer, soul, the sun, a

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<v Speaker 2>short summer tale, a summer psalm, and a languid summer night.

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<v Speaker 2>Genesis chapter eight, verse twenty two says, as long as

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<v Speaker 2>the earth endures seed time and harvest, cold and heat,

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<v Speaker 2>summer and winter, day and night will never cease. God

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<v Speaker 2>has given us the beauty of our four seasons, and

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<v Speaker 2>with each one, a new facet of ourselves is invited

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<v Speaker 2>to emerge. The fall season gives us with the visual

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<v Speaker 2>turning of time. Cool autumn days show us change doesn't

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<v Speaker 2>have to be a burden. And like the leaves that

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<v Speaker 2>turn from green to amber, crimson, and gold and then

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<v Speaker 2>fall to the ground, there's a great deal of freedom

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<v Speaker 2>in letting go. Ecclesiastes chapter three, verse one tells us

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<v Speaker 2>for everything there is a season. There's a time for everything,

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<v Speaker 2>and a season for every activity under the heavens. In

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<v Speaker 2>the winter months, we draw into coziness. Like our furry

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<v Speaker 2>friends who hibernate through the frigid days. We two nestle

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<v Speaker 2>in by ourselves or with loved ones. We treasure the

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<v Speaker 2>feeling of warmth. Like the ground that lies fallow in

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<v Speaker 2>the cold, calling for a time of rest, we too

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<v Speaker 2>have less distractions of outside goings on and more opportunity

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<v Speaker 2>for rest and introspection. Job chapter thirty seven, Versus five

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<v Speaker 2>and six sas he says, to the snow fall on

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<v Speaker 2>the earth, and to the rain shower, be a mighty downpour.

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<v Speaker 2>So that everyone he has made may know his work.

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<v Speaker 2>He stops all people from their labor. Then, like from

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<v Speaker 2>a dream, spring awakens us with showers and budding soil,

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<v Speaker 2>every living creature chirping with life. Song of Songs Chapter two,

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<v Speaker 2>verses eleven and twelve says, See the winter is past,

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<v Speaker 2>the rains are over and gone. Flowers appear on the earth.

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<v Speaker 2>The season of singing has come. In the season of spring.

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<v Speaker 2>God's creation calls us to rise to bloom. Spring asks

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<v Speaker 2>us to connect with others and ourselves, and to stand

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<v Speaker 2>as a captive audience to living art created by the

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<v Speaker 2>great Artist. It is unveiled before us until we can't

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<v Speaker 2>help but praise the Creator. Then renewed with hope and thriving,

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<v Speaker 2>the brightness of summer is ablaze. The awakening has occurred,

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<v Speaker 2>and now the thriving can commence. It's time for blue skies, celebration,

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<v Speaker 2>and flourishing. Summer is a time for joy because the

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<v Speaker 2>light is made full and we can soak in its

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<v Speaker 2>brilliance and growth. Jeremiah chapter seventeen, verses seven and eight says,

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<v Speaker 2>but blessed is the one who trusts the Lord, whose

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<v Speaker 2>confidence is in him. They will be like a tree

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<v Speaker 2>planted by the water that sends out its roots by

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<v Speaker 2>the stream. It does not fear when the heat comes.

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<v Speaker 2>Its leaves are always green. It has no worries in

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<v Speaker 2>a year of drought, and never fails to bear fruit.

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<v Speaker 2>The sounds and beauty of summer summer. When the earth

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<v Speaker 2>sheds winter and fallow grounds awaken, then nature shows off

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<v Speaker 2>what it was created to do. Trees, once leafless and

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<v Speaker 2>gray brown, yield every shade of green and grow heavy

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<v Speaker 2>with fruit and nuts. Wild Berries grow close to the ground,

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<v Speaker 2>sprawling and spreading sweetness. Peaches are decadent with golden goodness,

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<v Speaker 2>and watermelons are pink and fresh. Wide fields of crops

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<v Speaker 2>flourish in the season's shining light. It's summer. Time to

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<v Speaker 2>run through sprinklers with bare feet and chase bullfrogs. Time

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<v Speaker 2>for butterflies to emerge from their cocoons. Bird songs are

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<v Speaker 2>summer songs, and the music goes on and on and on.

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<v Speaker 2>The sunlight sets us free while the earth yields summer delights.

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<v Speaker 2>Picnic blankets and beach towels, flip flops and vacation days,

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<v Speaker 2>fields of sunflowers, and freezers full of popsicles, the summer

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<v Speaker 2>drive in and picnics beneath the old tree out back.

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<v Speaker 2>Summer brings the sounds of family chatter and childlife laughter,

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<v Speaker 2>the chirping of crickets and choruses of tree frogs. It

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<v Speaker 2>brings the buzz of bees pollinating, and the rumbling of

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<v Speaker 2>a gathering summer storm. Summer gives us the sound of

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<v Speaker 2>warm breezes blowing the leaves of trees in soft wishing whispers,

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<v Speaker 2>a sound that calls us to the hammock strung securely

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<v Speaker 2>beneath a tree, giving a gentle creaking sound as it

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<v Speaker 2>lazily rocks its sleeper to rest for an afternoon nap.

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<v Speaker 2>There is plenty of time for rest, and we have

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<v Speaker 2>all we need. The bounty of summer fills us with possibility.

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<v Speaker 2>It calls us to play a little more, to expand

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<v Speaker 2>into what we desire, and to dance with gratitude to

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<v Speaker 2>the one who made us, the one who crafted every

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<v Speaker 2>flower bud and caused it to bloom, The one who

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<v Speaker 2>watches over the seedlings as they reach the sky and

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<v Speaker 2>bear fruit, the one who sends reins with the wave

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<v Speaker 2>of his hand, the one who calls from hibernation those

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<v Speaker 2>who sleep. The one who dances and celebrates beside us

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<v Speaker 2>to the sounds and bounty of summer, as Psalm chapter one,

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<v Speaker 2>verse three tells us, and he shall be like a

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<v Speaker 2>tree planted by the rivers of water, that brings forth

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<v Speaker 2>his fruit in his season. His leaf also shall not wither,

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<v Speaker 2>and whatsoever he does shall prosper. Soul the Sun a

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<v Speaker 2>short summer tale. Soul the Sun sat lazily on his

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<v Speaker 2>throne of cloud and blue. His rays spread to the

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<v Speaker 2>far reaches of the little planet covered in water and

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<v Speaker 2>emerald green. His job took no effort, and he was

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<v Speaker 2>bored with all the burning and shining and the continual

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<v Speaker 2>scorching of heat and energy. Soul the Sun was sullen

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<v Speaker 2>and moody. The little planet below got to spin about

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<v Speaker 2>in a dance of shadow and light. Soul burned with

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<v Speaker 2>jealousy that he did not know the hiddenness of shadow,

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<v Speaker 2>What mystery and allure there seemed to be in a

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<v Speaker 2>smoky darkness. Yet here he was suspended and wildly seen,

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<v Speaker 2>rays sprawling all over the place. Soul hated when his

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<v Speaker 2>glare blinded everyone's eyes. He didn't mean to sure. He

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<v Speaker 2>wanted to be like everyone else, but how sad that

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<v Speaker 2>it was a hazard to gaze at him. It was

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<v Speaker 2>hardest in the summer months, Oh the summer months, when

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<v Speaker 2>Soul's curiosity drew him closer to the little planet's surface.

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<v Speaker 2>There he was met with a moaning and complaint, contempt

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<v Speaker 2>for his heat and glare. He only wanted to see.

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<v Speaker 2>He couldn't help his blaze, He couldn't help his toasty nature.

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<v Speaker 2>How he wished he could offer the chill of shadow

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<v Speaker 2>a place to hide and seek, He only offered illumination, exposure,

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<v Speaker 2>and of course, the feverish heat. One day, when Soul

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<v Speaker 2>drew nearest to the little planet, on the day they

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<v Speaker 2>called the solstice, Soul hovered especially close enough to see

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<v Speaker 2>a little girl twirling in a field in the northern hemisphere.

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<v Speaker 2>Soul watched as she danced and danced and danced, then

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<v Speaker 2>rested in a sunflower patch. Giant sunflowers towered over her,

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<v Speaker 2>and smaller sunflowers bloomed closer to the ground. From a

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<v Speaker 2>nearby house, a woman called the little girl, Maria. Can

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<v Speaker 2>you water the sunflowers while you're out there? Maria? Soul thought,

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<v Speaker 2>what a sweet name for this little dancing daughter of

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<v Speaker 2>the sunflowers. Maria stood and grabbed a small tin watering can.

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<v Speaker 2>She hummed as she sprinkled drops of water at the

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<v Speaker 2>feet of each stem. Her dark hair hung long and tangled,

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<v Speaker 2>and she wore a yellow sun dress with tiny flowers

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<v Speaker 2>on it. Saul thought to himself, she is almost like

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<v Speaker 2>a little mini ray of sunshine all on her own.

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<v Speaker 2>She sang on, delighting Soul. After a little while, she

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<v Speaker 2>suddenly stopped. She put her watering can down and lifted

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<v Speaker 2>her eyes to look right at Soul. Oh, now, little Sunshine,

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<v Speaker 2>do not look at me. I will only hurt your eyes.

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<v Speaker 2>He knew she couldn't hear him, no one ever did,

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<v Speaker 2>but she closed her eyes as if she had heard

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<v Speaker 2>his warning. Unlike others who look into the unrelenting light

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<v Speaker 2>of the sun and quickly looked to the ground, realizing

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<v Speaker 2>their mistake, Little Sunshine held her face toward Soul's light.

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<v Speaker 2>Though her eyes were closed and she could see nothing,

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<v Speaker 2>she smiled and glowed in the light. It was like

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<v Speaker 2>she was soaking in as much of Soul's warmth as

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<v Speaker 2>she could. Still she smiled, eyes closed. Soul smiled too.

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<v Speaker 2>After a few moments, she lowered her head and began

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<v Speaker 2>singing again while she continued watering the sunflowers. Her song

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<v Speaker 2>was familiar to Soul. You are my sunshine, my only sunshine.

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<v Speaker 2>You make me happy when skies are gray. You'll never know, dear,

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<v Speaker 2>how much I love you. Please don't take my sunshine away.

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<v Speaker 2>Soul thought he would cry if the tears wouldn't evaporate

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<v Speaker 2>before they fell, But his self, pity and loathing were

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<v Speaker 2>also evaporating. Little sunshine had sung him to happiness. Why

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<v Speaker 2>had he been so sullen and moody? So what if

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<v Speaker 2>he isn't seen and gazed upon? His warmth could be

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<v Speaker 2>felt rather than seen. So what if he didn't know

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<v Speaker 2>the mystery of shadow? His light made people happy, made

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<v Speaker 2>Maria dancing, daughter of the sunflowers happy. Soul decided from

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<v Speaker 2>his throne of cloud and blue that maybe illuminating a

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<v Speaker 2>world full of little sunshines shining back at him wasn't

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<v Speaker 2>so bad after all. Let me pray for you one

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<v Speaker 2>last time. God, Thank you for your seasons. We know

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<v Speaker 2>you create them for our benefit and use them for

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<v Speaker 2>our good. Bless my friend who is resting in whatever

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<v Speaker 2>season they find themselves. Bless them with understanding growth abundance

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<v Speaker 2>and trust in You for all of these things. May

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<v Speaker 2>they find themselves in a summer season of flourishing and

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<v Speaker 2>thriving with the abundance you give. Thank you for your

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<v Speaker 2>abundance and your abounding love in Jesus's name, Amen, thank

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<v Speaker 2>you for joining me for this series of seasons a

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<v Speaker 2>summer night beneath the twinkling lights. If you are in

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<v Speaker 2>a season of trout, I pray you are encouraged by

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<v Speaker 2>Jeremiah Chapter seventeen, verses seven and eight, that says, blessed

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<v Speaker 2>is the one who trusts in the Lord, whose confidence

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<v Speaker 2>is in him. They will be like a tree planted

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<v Speaker 2>by the water, that out its roots by the stream.

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<v Speaker 2>It does not fear when heat comes. Its leaves are

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<v Speaker 2>always green. It has no worries in a year of drought,

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<v Speaker 2>and never fails to bear fruit.