Manatees

Daily Gratitude Year 13 - Day 4: Today, I am grateful for manatees. 

Manatees are so amazing. They are often referred to as "sea cows" because of their size. They are mesmerizing to me. Watching them is calming. I find it hard to walk away when I have a chance to see them up close. 

This was a fun find:

"Advice from a Manatee: Breathe deep. Glide through your day. Have a gentle spirit. Enjoy time alone. Live large." 

A manatee can rest under water for a long time. They know how to take a deep breath. 

They are huge, but slide through their days with an uncommon grace for their size. 

They never seem to rush. They never worry about their size. They enjoy alone time. 

As many are reading in Genesis this week, I could not resist a shout out to the lovely manatee. (Check out the Veggie Tales song, Barbara Manatee is you need a smile.)

"And evening passed and morning came, marking the fourth day. Then God said, “Let the waters swarm with fish and other life. Let the skies be filled with birds of every kind.” So God created great sea creatures and every living thing that scurries and swarms in the water, and every sort of bird—each producing offspring of the same kind. And God saw that it was good. Then God blessed them, saying, “Be fruitful and multiply. Let the fish fill the seas, and let the birds multiply on the earth.” -Genesis 1:20-22

We can learn much from a manatee.

Today, I am grateful for manatees. 

Reflect

Daily Gratitude Year 13 - Day 3: Today, I am grateful for the reminder to reflect.

My one little word for 2025 is reflect/reflection because I have already used "light" in the past. Of course, the two are related, but "reflect" will be a fresh twist.  

This is one of my favorite passages. It is a reminder that how we act speaks volumes above what we say. Yes, actions speak louder than words. 

"And you yourself must be an example to them by doing good works of every kind. Let everything you do reflect the integrity and seriousness of your teaching." -Titus 2:7

How do we reflect the integrity and seriousness of the gospel? Do we reflect the hope and the promise of all that we believe? We do not wear rose colored glasses. 

We know what we know because in the darkest days of our lives, our God never fails. Jesus, who lived the human condition with us,  advocates for us before the Father. The Holy Spirit's invisible presence is a comfort we can count on when everyone else seems absent. 

I guess that explains the Holy Trinity in a nutshell without any fancy language. We can hold on with the confidence that we are never alone. We were created for a relationship with the Father. We were condemned by our sinful condition until Jesus came and conquered sin in our skin, death, and the grave. We delight in knowing "the Comforter has come" to help us every step of the way. 

When we look in the mirror, what do we see? Yes, we know our own faults, failures, and imperfections. They stare back at us, often magnified. Remember, His grace is better than any wrinkle cream. He smoothed it all out for us on the cross. He takes the messed up and makes us "flawless" before the throne. 

Are we as serious about confessing our sins as we are about our nightly face creams, wrinkle juice, and morning moisturizers? It is something to reflect on. 

Today, I am grateful for the reminder to reflect.

A New Marriage

Daily Gratitude Year 13 - Day 2: Today, I am grateful for a new marriage. 

This is one of my favorite pictures from Walker and Amber's elopement in Galena, IL. They wanted to keep it simple and sweet... and they did. We were thrilled to be there with them. 

This picture is one of my favorite snapshots of the day. You can feel the joy and see the happiness. They really like each other and it shows. 

This passage was part of the ceremony. There is a reason it is called "The Love Chapter." It sums up the evidence of love. It notes that love is "patient and kind." Next, it defines what love "is not." 

"Love is patient and kind. Love is not jealous or boastful or proud or rude. It does not demand its own way. It is not irritable, and it keeps no record of being wronged. It does not rejoice about injustice but rejoices whenever the truth wins out. Love never gives up, never loses faith, is always hopeful, and endures through every circumstance. -1 Corinthians 13:4-7

Love never loses faith. Love is always hopeful. Real love endures through every circumstance... in good times and in difficult ones, too. 

Our hearts are full as we welcome Amber into the family. We are grateful for this new chapter in their relationship, and for the many chapters ahead of them.  

There will be sunshine and rain. There will be laughter and tears. Our prayer is that they face each dawn renewing the choice they made today and that they always kiss goodbye before parting and goodnight before sleep. 

Today, I am grateful for a new marriage.