I don’t like the color grey. There. I’ve said it. I know, I know….It’s a very popular color! But, just give me a minute to tell you why I dislike it so much. Maybe you will feel more merciful toward me once you see where I’m coming from.

In one of my posts, I told you that my father was a policeman. He also worked several other part time jobs for the town we grew up in. He served on the Fire Department, plowed roads as well as working at the cemetery. My mom would send us off with him on Saturdays to go get a plain donut, visit the Fire Chief who also worked at the gas station, then go to the cemetery to run around. Honestly, I had no idea what my father was doing digging holes in the ground or going into these small closed off rooms with shelves in them. The only thing I knew was, there were grey stones with people’s names on them that had died. I didn’t like that. But it was a large area with trees, hills and many places to play “Hide and Seek”. So that “green” part made me happy.

I haven’t made mention of my grandmothers but they were both nurses. Not only did they work in hospitals but one went on to work in a mental hospital and the other, a prison. As children, we went with them to work sometimes. Now, how is that possible or even advisable is a mystery to me. My sister, who was so comfortable with people and secure in whatever circumstances she found herself in, seemed to do just fine. I, on the other hand, sat in a ball of frozen fear. To this day, the memories are extremely clear. The walls of these places? Grey.

The basement. Now, there’s a scary place! The walls and floors? Grey.

Winter, when it’s not snowing….grey. Snow, after its softly and beautifully covered everything in fluffy white? Grey.

The sky when it rains and rains? Yup, you guessed it. Grey.

Have you heard or felt the absence of color in your lives from time to time? People say, they are just “feeling grey” or they are going through a “grey time”.

All of these things can effect you, for sure! I remember hearing that the Seattle area, where it rains and rains, has a very high rate of depression. (If you’re from that area and find that statistic is inaccurate, let me know!🌧) It’s important to have sunlight!

I will have to admit that when rooms are creatively decorated with grey in the mix, they can be very appealing. My kids have recently painted their new home with grey and it looks awesome!But, maybe that’s the thing. Grey, when added and accented, whether it’s a room, clothing, a picture or even our everyday lives, can add beauty not overshadow it. Hmm….I just got a new grey picture, mentioning “shadow”. How ’bout those dark alleys?? Yup, grey. I’m just saying….

We all experience times, seasons and places that are grey. Maybe you, like my sister, were never effected by those kinds of things growing up. We are all different. My mother used to tell me that I was a very visual person. My first priority, should I find myself on a deserted island, forest or desert would be to immediately rearrange the area I was in to make it look livable and aesthetically pleasing. Actually, I think I’d pray first, THEN begin to beautify my space. Lol! But, I’m quite sure we ALL go through grey times that we wish would go away. Even now, I think of that song, “The Sun Will Come Out Tomorrow”. Doesn’t it speak of clearing away the cobwebs (another grey!) and sorrows? Also, being stuck with a day, that’s grey and lonely? I think we are instructed to “just stick out our chin and grin and say!!….” I wish it was just that easy! I never watched “Annie” so the words to the song are kinda….grey. Haha!

“Light is sweet, and it pleases the eyes to see the sun.”
(Ecclesiastes 11:7 NIV)

I want to encourage you today if you find yourself in a grey season or space where you feel like the color is draining away. Remember, too much sun creates drought where everything living dies. We need both sun and rain, naturally and emotionally if we want beauty to grow. When we feel covered in grey, God, Himself, is able to be light within us. We need to ask Him to come into our lives and shine His light into our hearts. When the love of God and hope that He brings begins to warm us within, joy wells up and becomes our strength, even if we are surrounded by grey walls and floors.

This is one of my favorite scriptures: “The Lord will guide you always; he will satisfy your needs in a sun-scorched land and will strengthen your frame. You will be like a well-watered garden, like a spring whose waters never fail.” (Isaiah 58:11 NIV) I tell myself that; “I am a well watered garden!” Perhaps I need to redecorate one of my rooms with both grey and yellow to remind me that grey, when creatively and purposefully added to my life, will cause the yellow of cheerier times, to pop! Isn’t that the “now and wow” expression designers like to use? Don’t you know that you were carefully designed?

“For you created and carefully designed my inmost being; you knit me together in my motherʼs womb.” (Psalm 139:13 NIV)

When He created you, when He created me, when he designed color, even grey, He saw, “It was good. It was very good.” (Genesis) I’m not sure I’ll ever like grey. But I guess it’s got its place of importance on the pallet. It certainly causes the yellow to look much brighter!

I’m featuring a song that puts such a lovely tune to this week’s post. I hope it’s a comfort, bringing a bit of warmth to chase away grey chill! I just noticed that the sun is going down and the room around me, growing grey. I’m going to go turn the light on. Warm blessings, my friends!