Mother Ducks

I am awed and inspired, as usual, by these powerful thoughts from Holy Experience.

Morning thoughts

Keeping a consistent morning time to meet with God has never been one of my strong points. I am not a morning person, and any out-of-the-ordinary occurrence seems to upset my routines. Put more plainly, it is pretty hard for me to get up early in the morning unless I have had a good night's sleep.

This morning was a good one, and I am meditating on Ephesians 2:10.

For we are God's workmanship, created in Christ Jesus to do good works which God prepared in advance for us to do.

Though this is not a new verse to me, God showed it to me in a new light today. "Good works" always meant to me the work that we do that others see - like living overseas to work with those affected by leprosy. That makes perfect sense, and I think is an appropriate application of the verse.

But today's thought is that the good works which God has prepared for me to do are most often the hidden ones: parenting gently, preparing meals, holding a child's hand, welcoming guests, listening carefully to the concerns of my husband and children, praying . . .

I think that for this wife, mom, and home educator, these are my main tasks, and were every bit as prepared in advance for me to do as the seemingly larger tasks of my husband's work.

Father, keep me ever mindful that each task in my day pleasant or difficult, comes from your unchanging, loving hand.

Written a while back, this was not posted then due to internet issues.

A beautiful new look

for my blog, courtesy of MaddieLynn. As I told her, its cheerful colors and design are inspiring and just make me feel happy!

She has been wonderful to work with by email and very prompt. I highly recommend you visit her site if you are looking for a cheery re-work of your blog! The link is in the left sidebar.

Thanks, MaddieLynn!

Of highlights

47. A patch of blue in a clouded sky.

48. The dull clouds, framing the blue, highlighting its beauty.

Just a thought - when clouds crowd the sky of my day, threatening to obscure His light, do I see only the gray, or do I look for the brightness of his Glory breaking through?

Lord, let me always see the obstructions and encumbrances of this broken world as frames to highlight your grace, opportunities for your beauty to break through.

Photo courtesy of FreeStockPhotos.com

Gifts

44. A child's hand holding mine.



45. The sound of their laughter.

46. A safe journey.

Thank you, Father. What grace you bestow.

in a day

40. A day to be reminded . . .

41. . . . of hands . . .

42. . . . and feet . . .



43. . . . and purpose.

It's all grace, all from his hands.


Photos from a clinic I was able to attend.

. . . and giving . . .

37. Tea to sooth a sore throat.

38. A dry day. (Laundry, and other things, drying)


39. The love of a brother. (Wonder Boy and Princess Grace share a towel after playing in the rain)