1st Sunday Devotional on a 2nd Sunday…
Have you ever taken a walk on a beautiful day and not seen the soft white clouds in the deep blue sky? I have. Have you passed close to a honeysuckle vine and not noticed the sweet odor? Have you felt a bug on your shoulder and brushed it off without checking to see if it might be a butterfly? Everyday blessings abound around us, but we sometimes don’t take time to notice. Are the trees turning gold and red? I know, this dry year, we aren’t sure whether the trees can put on their usual display, but if they do, are we taking time to drink in the beauty? Are birds singing? Is the breeze kissing my cheeks? How much of God’s world will we miss just because we don’t take the time to look?
I go for a walk nearly everyday. Sometimes, like today, it’s a beautiful day. Not too hot or too cold. No clouds to hide the sun. You might say a perfect day to enjoy a walk out into God’s world. Yet on one day something like the day we had today when I walked, I took my clouds with me. I forgot to look up at the happy white clouds sliding across the deep blue ice of the sky. My own clouds of worry about how to accomplish all the things I had set for myself to get done that day kept my eyes pointed inward. I was walking, but the walk had become just another thing on my “to do” list. I forgot to commune with nature. Instead I hurried one foot in front of the other to get this walk over with so I could get on to the next task and then the next and the next. Without warning, my toe caught in an old piece of wire fencing that was hiding under the grass, and I went sprawling. Suddenly I was noticing things – like the hard ground and the small rocks on the path biting into my hands. But as I sat up, I also noticed the sky and the breeze and the sunshine and the evidence of God’s love all around me.
We’re often like that in our daily lives. Bustling along, tending to business, not noticing the blessings all around us. And sometimes God has to knock us off our feet to get our attention. Our eyes and hearts are jarred open. All at once, we see God’s blessings all around us and wonder why we hadn’t looked before.
For You, Lord, have made me glad through Your work; I will triumph in the works of Your hands. Psalm 92:4 (NKJ)
Hope you don’t have to take a tumble to wake up to the beauty of your world.
What everyday blessing have you noticed this week?
P.S. The picture is from some years ago. That’s Oscar enjoying the beautiful fall day. And my tumble was several years ago too with no ill effects, but sometimes it’s good to wake up to the beauty around us. Today the sunshine on my shoulders while I walked the dogs was just right.
Comments 7
Awww. Looks like Oscar is enjoying the ice blue sky and the fluffy white clouds. I’m so sorry that he had to leave before you were ready to let him go. It’s difficult when our furry friends leave us. Sounds as though you are having lovely weather. The MS Gulf Coast had a couple of cooler days and then back to the 80’s and hi humidity!
Author
We did have some nice days and some more are headed our way this weekend, but today a little winter wind slipped down to drop the bottom out of the temperatures. Very cool today. I wouldn’t have minded having some gloves when I went walking the dogs. But things are all still very green, except for the trees where the leaves just turned brown during the drought weeks. I’m holding out hope for some of the trees to show a little cooler in the next few days.
That Oscar appeared to be enjoying the view was the reason I picked that picture, Karen. He was such a good dog. Frankie and Marley are good dogs too, but Frankie still likes to do things his way. He’s a rascal but a better dog now that he has Marley as a dog buddy.
My husband and I went with the church on a tour a few years back North to view the Fall colors. Much to our disappointment it too was a drought year and the leaves on the trees were brown, also. We still had a great time!
Thank you for your beautiful words and the reminder to slow down a bit and look around. I so enjoy the wonderful things God created for our pleasure. I am often sidetracked (much like a dog who sees a squirrel or a ball) by the clouds, the flowers, the bugs. I’m in awe of Gods’ creative works. He didn’t have to give us so much beauty, but I’m thankful He chose to.
Author
Sounds as if you are already slowing down to “smell the roses,” Janette. I too am thankful for the blessing of a beautiful world. And there is beauty in so many of the ordinary things we see every day.
Thanks so much for sharing this reminder to appreciate the gifts, big and small ,that God puts in our daily path,Ann! 🍂Isaiah 40:8,Psalm 19🍂
Author
I hope you have some everyday blessings to enjoy today, Emily.