I'm working on a crazy quilt today, stitching together words to respond to two prompts from two of my favorite writing groups.
7 But ask now the beasts, and they shall teach thee;
and the fowls of the air, and they shall tell thee:
8 Or speak to the earth and it shall teach thee:
and the fishes of the sea shall declare unto thee.
9 Who knoweth not in all these
that the hand of the Lord hath wrought this?
10 In whose hand is the soul of every living thing,
and the breath of all mankind.
Job 12:7-10
My daily walks during this time of pandemic have kept me sane. As I walk, I reflect on the Lord who created this world and all that is in it. I seek solace from the natural world and it delivers.
Here are some ordinary things that have shed brilliant light, created magic, and sustained me in recent days:
Capturing a heron in flight skimming over the blue water
A red and white boat pulling a much smaller red and white boat framed against a background of evergreens
On a stroll near the library, sunflowers against a weathered brown fence
Late season dahlias to gladden my heart on a nearby neighborhood loop
A careful removal of the spider web spun in front of daughter's front walk to one of the clear lights above the walk
An afternoon inspection reveals the offending web reinstalled far above walking height and to the side of the front walk with spider in situ
A video of grandson snuggled into bed reading a book to his baby sister
The charm of almost eighteen month grandson perched on a rock
The sheer exhilaration of a three year grandson speeding down the driveway in his wiggle car, feet waving in the air
Okay, I admit that a couple of these things might not have been ordinary (the heron and the barge), but I'm grateful for moments to reflect and be grateful. And even more grateful during difficult times for reassuring words from scripture to remind me that the soul of every living thing and the breath of all mankind are in His hand.
These are such beautiful slices of life. I loved starting my day with them!
ReplyDeleteWhat's better than observance of nature and grandchildren!
ReplyDeleteRamona, thanks for the B=scripture words that notes "In whose hand is the soul of every living thing,
ReplyDeleteand the breath of all mankind." Your ordinary thing celebrations are full of the beauty of life. I see the wonder of living in the scenes of your grandchildren. May the Lord continue to bless them.
The first line B should have said beautiful...
ReplyDeleteAmen. Amen. Amen.
ReplyDeleteSo many beautiful ordinary things!
ReplyDeleteI've long known it is the simple things that are most meaningful and sustaining - love your search for "ordinary things that have shed brilliant light, created magic, and sustained me in recent days" and your list. And the photos - the little ones bring such joy, for they exude it! That reassurance at the end is a much-needed breath of calm. It makes me think of a line from Robert Barrett Browning, "Our times are in his hand" - and echo of Psalm 31. Thank you, Ramona.
ReplyDeleteI love reading this and feeling like I walked alongside you throughout the week. Walking keeps me grounded, too. I love being outside and noticing the world. God is good -- I'm constantly reminded of this truth.
ReplyDelete