All of life--our families, our friends, our material possessions, our health--starts out as a gift. As life goes on, we can begin to take those gifts for granted and develop expectations of how things are supposed to be. If and when the gifts are withdrawn, we may become angry or demanding because we think we have a right to them. Instead, we would be wise to determine to be grateful for whatever is given to us.
Ney Bailey, Faith is Not a Feeling, page 72
843. Toward Jerusalem in the library here!
844. Sitting by the creek, feeding Asya, listening to the water, watching the bluebirds and the rest of my family playing by the water: bliss!
845. The flashes of bright color that are bluebirds in the sunlight
846. Porch swings
847. A sick little girl who loves to be outside so much that she spends her whole morning sleeping on that porch swing
848. Conversation with a Serbian mother at the park (Russian and Serbian are quite similar!)
849. Asya smiling at the flowers
840. Daffodils, crocuses, camellias
841. Violets!
842. Family and friends
843. Family and friends
844. Family and friends
845. Family and friends
846. Family and friends
847. Jaan holding Will's hand in the front seat of the car on long trips
848. Roses, a gift given when I stopped to talk to a neighbor
849. Color! Blue sky, pink azaleas, red maple seeds, bright new leaves on the oaks
850. Raia bringing me her blanket to make me feel better
851. Live entertainment at home (The children had me howling with the whole business of consulting their "monkey schedules"!)
852. There was so much moving around, wandering, in Genesis! And always God was with them.
853. Jaan putting his special slippers on Raia's feet when she was cold from our walk
854. Arms that hurt because they're so full
855. Using up, sharing around: life is rich when you can't put anything off or save it for later
856. Health for me through the last few colds that have gone around here
857. Motherhood!
858. Asya's special milky smile that means "Thanks for a good meal, Mama."
859. Jaan on the see-saw wearing his skis
860. The obliviousness of childhood
861. Freeing ourselves from stuff
862. Sweet little Babushka Anya! I was worried about her. It was so good to talk to her today.
863. The tiniest snowflakes I've ever seen, each a perfect, individual star
864. Not much more time: it makes realize that every day is a priceless gift
865. "Though for a little while his joy be like a tree cut down, it will sprout again, and through the scent of water it will bud, and bring forth boughs like a plant. For he is like a tree planted by the rivers of water."
Amy Carmichael, quoted in Amma: The Life and Words of Amy Carmichael, page 187
866. My Bible reading schedule for January "just happens" to include the book of Job
867. Lamentations 3:22-33
868. It's over. No more suspense.
(I have the comments turned off on purpose. This list is my sacrifice of praise to God. I want to share it with you all, but it really doesn't need discussing.)
