What a beautiful day!! 

Okay - so if you'd been a "fly" in my car this morning, you'd have witnessed my frustration with traffic and myself as I reacted to individual drivers whom, I can only guess, believe that the laws governing the roadways are mere suggestions, with lines, lanes, signs and lights being annoying interruptions of their cell phone use.  I would ask God for forgiveness for my agitation, then come back within only minutes to seek His grace again - I even had gospel music playing! 

But I wanted to break this cycle  - and it came to me - twice this morning already I had heard, "but Lord, when did we see you hungry or thirsty or a stranger....." and that's when I asked the Lord to help me see each person as He sees them.  I don't know their back stories - or those things on their mind that distract them - but He does.  Most importantly, I just need to love - and that is a choice...so I became grateful that I have the privilege of driving a car, the opportunity to pray for those on the road with me and to show grace and kindness, whether returned or not... and my day changed.....and I am grateful.   

Jesus replied: “‘Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind. This is the first and greatest commandment.  And the second is like it: ‘Love your neighbor as yourself.  All the Law and the Prophets hang on these two commandments.” Matthew 22:37-40

As a little girl on a trip to Texas to see family at Christmas, I was thrilled to see my first fireflies.  At first just a few, and then, they seemed to fill the night in front of the car's headlights.  It was amazing the way the shining little little lights danced in the headlights and then it appeared as though we were being engulfed by a swarm!  A dear friend had a similar experience when he awoke to a surprise and ran to tell his parents about the pretty white carpet someone had placed in their yard.....You guessed it, both were "first snow" experiences. 

What God has created is amazing and even now when snow falls, I feel the child-like wonder rise up in me again.  I want to skip and run from window to window to see it and declare - It's snowing!

 

Give thanks to the LORD of lords, for His lovingkindness is everlasting.  To Him who alone does great wonders, for His lovingkindness is everlasting; to Him who made the heavens with skill, for His lovingkindness is everlasting; To Him who spread out the earth above the waters...who made the great lights...the sun to rule by day...and the moon and stars to rule by night, for His lovingkindness is everlasting.  Psalm 136:3-9

 

Enjoy this day... with thanksgiving and purpose!