wonderful gifts . . .

13. Freshly grated coconut - still on the tree this morning - ready to be toasted! What a glorious smell!

14. Feather pillows.

15. Air conditioners on the hottest day of the year so far.

His Gifts

just keep on coming:

10. Morning sunlight streaming through the kitchen window.

11. The sounds of birds lifting their songs of praise at 5 am.

12. Little girls' pigtails!

Romans 2:4

Or do you show contempt for the riches of his kindness, tolerance and patience, not realizing that God's kindness leads you toward repentance?

May it never be that I take lightly or with contempt His overwhelming mercy towards me.

the list continues . .

5. Princess Grace asleep with her no-longer-lost favorite toy.

6. Books that encourage.

7. A "Mommy's day off".

8. Husband's kindness to give it.

9. Sermon podcasts.

Thankfulness . . .

1. Fresh pickles!

2. A new kitten to replace one gone.

3. Wonder Boy giggles (while baby kitten tickles his tummy).













4. Waffles prepared and served in our room! By the children!

One Thousand Gifts

I have been reading with care the beautiful listing of 1000 gifts, now continuing as endless gifts, that Ann V. of A Holy Experience has been sharing. As my own life seems many days short on gratitude and long on negativity, I feel led to begin my own listing. How long it will take, or where it will lead, I cannot say. But God is in the beginning, so I will trust him for the doing.

Careful Washing

The afternoon sunlight, growing hotter each day, streams through the window over the sink. The pile of plates and cups is not large, but demands attention. Inattention brings ants.

One by one, soil removed, the stack shifts from right to left: hot water and soap and hands doing their work. Time passes. The water cools. Soapy bubbles disappear. But one plastic box, greasy from Monday's vegetable curry leftovers, awaits. No lukewarm water nor tired suds will be enough.

I add a bit of soap to the sponge, coax some hot water from the faucet, and scrub the offending box. Careful attention to the corners, the edges: wherever the yellow grease wants to cling. That is what it takes to clean a greasy plastic box: soap, hot water, and attention to the details.

Where are the dirty corners in my life: the ones needing extra attention? I know they are there. The ones that I'd rather stuff under the sink or hide deep in my heart. But He longs to give them extra attention, to flood the dirty corners with the hot water of his truth, to cleanse them with the detergent of his Word.

May I let you attend to the greasy boxes of my life.