Teeny Blessings

As I poured my coffee this morning, I looked out, as I do every morning, over the backyard.  I look to see if there are any creatures (we've had foxes, rabbits, groundhogs, 'possums, and of course birds) roaming around.  This morning I noticed my garden gate had been left open.  After reading that list of animals, you can see why I went out immediately to see if there had been any damage.

I checked the lettuce first, because I figured that would be the tastiest to the bunnies I've seen, but nothing.  I did a quick look to be sure there weren't any creatures actually hiding in the garden, and then I went around, just "surveying the kingdom".  It needs to be done every day, anyway.

As I checked out the potatoes, I noticed several leaves had been chewed up.  I instantly thought, "oh no, potato bugs".  I've had them every year I've grown potatoes and I HATE them.  They're voracious eaters, it's really hard to pick off all of them, and it usually means that I just have to use pesticide.  I try really hard not to use pesticide, but these little buggers are so awful.  

When I lifted a leaf to check out the underside (because that's where those rotten things hang out), I didn't see any potato bugs....but I did find this little guy.  I cheered !!!  The picture's a bit fuzzy, since he's so teeny, but it's a praying mantis nymph.  They are wonderful predators.  We used to buy ootheca (mantis egg sacs) off Ebay, hatch them, and release them into the garden.  

I also have many garden spiders this year, which is also terrific.

A lot of you won't understand my teeny blessings post and will wonder why I'm so happy about "creepy-crawlies".  That's okay.  God blessed me by giving me bugs in my garden and I appreciate it.  

Have you counted any teeny blessings??

Shells

We recently returned from a week at Ft. Story.  Very relaxing - no internet, no cell, no news from this crazy place known as northern Virginia.  While we were there, I was really trying to be paying attention to the moment and to the blessings otherwise known as my kids.  They loved the beach.  We went every morning, several afternoons, and even a few evenings after dinner.  They never failed to enjoy finding crabs, searching for the perfect shell, and jumping in the waves.

While I was walking along the beach, keeping an eye out for just the right shell, I asked God what I should take away from this.  I seem to hear God in nature, as I have said before.  Here's what I "heard".

There are thousands, if not millions of shells out there.  None are perfect.  We like them anyway, don't we??  They're all different - colors, shapes, sizes - even the broken ones are interesting.  How did they get broken?  Why are the same kinds of shells broken in different ways?  Do I consider every PERSON as interesting as a shell?  Do I wonder how they got broken?  Do I find them beautiful anyway?  Or do I just want to "toss them back" instead of learning more about them?

This is a bit disjointed, but I'm feeling convicted in my relations with people.  I do have a tendency to be judgmental and assuming.  I want to see people as Jesus sees them.  Broken people with broken hearts who need to be loved and pointed to Christ.

Swallows and Sinfulness

My cat is great.  He hunts mice, moles, voles, and bunnies.  Because I have a garden, I encourage him.  However, sometimes he kills things I don't think he should....cardinals, robins, and most recently, two baby swallows.

As I thought on his actions today, I realized that even though he does things I don't think he should, I take the good with the bad.  God does that with me.  And I'm ever so grateful.

Every Good Gift

We had thunderstorms today...they were beautiful.  Not during, but before and after.  My kids marveled at the gorgeous green trees against the deep blue sky on one side and the grey-blue clouds in cool shapes on the other.  Great opportunity to remind them that God shows beauty in many places.

While working on History/Science, we started talking about Sir Isaac Newton.  He said, "Gravity explains the motions of the planets, but it cannot explain who set the planets in motion.  God governs all things and knows all that is or can be done."


I love how God points us to Himself if we just look!

Am I Thankful?

I have recently finished (re)reading One Thousand Gifts by Ann Voskamp.  I love it (as evidenced by the "re").  She talks about "eucharist", our communion with God.  Eucharist comes from "charis", or grace, and the root of "charis" is thanks.

Obviously, I'm thinking about how thankful I am - and if I would be when bad things happen.  It certainly won't happen because I'm all spiritual.  It will be purely because of the grace of God and the guidance of the Holy Spirit.

I don't know if this happens to anyone else, but God always reinforces what he's trying to teach me.  I'll read it in different places, or listen to a sermon, or hear a song that ties into what He wants me learn.

My Bible reading this morning was in Malachi - which it shouldn't have been.  My plan did not have me there, but that's where I was.  I love it when God moves like that!  The very first verses tie right into the theme of thankfulness.

"I have loved you," says the LORD.
"But you ask, 'How have you loved us?'"

There's more of course, but I got stuck right there.  How often do I doubt God's love for me?  It should be so obvious - He sent Christ to die for me, so OF COURSE He loves me.  But if you need more (and don't we always want more?!?), it occurred to me that "every day things" are God's blessings.  Do I thank him for my senses?  My limbs?  My ability to think?  The gift of healthy children?  These are not things I "deserve" or things I should expect, and yet....I do.  I ask "why" when bad things happen, but never ask "why" about good things.  Why don't I?  Because I still think I should get good things just because I'm alive.  Yes, God blesses us, but we should be humble.  I should be humble.

"Every good and perfect gift is from above, coming down from the Father of heavenly lights."  -James 1:17