When I walked out our front door the other day, I noticed how lovely the tree in our front yard has become. My photo doesn't do it justice, but its leaves are a mix of bright gold and deep crimson, and they were swirling around me in the breeze and crunching under my feet as I got into my car.
Then I noticed that ours was the only tree--really, the only one--on the whole street that looked this colorful. All of the other trees are still green, or already bare and without leaves, or brownish. Now, I am not relishing in our good fortune to have a yellow and red autumn tree while our neighbors have brown trees to look at--of course the whole street would be so lovely if all of the trees were like ours.
This is simply my way of noticing something small in my life--especially at a stressful time for us, when it seems like everything we think about is so huge--and being thankful for the bit of beauty it brings into my day. It's my way of being thankful during this season when we try to remember not what we don't have but all that we do. It's also my way of believing in God's hands working in the world---perhaps, on a rough day, He wanted me to experience this sign from Him that all will be well, that He is near.
Have you given thanks recently for something small in your life? I'd love to hear about it.
p.s. I have something very exciting planned for tomorrow--so please check back!
