Reliable Transportation

 

Daily Gratitude Year 14-Day 273: Today, I am grateful for reliable transportation. 

As we turn the calendar page and welcome October, I am confident my seat warmers will soon be in use. We call them "bun" or "butt" warmers around here and they are one of my favorite features on my car. The technology is no longer new, but my current car is the first one I've ever owned with that luxury option. Randy's truck has a heated steering wheel, too. 

Honestly, I need to remember to be grateful for a vehicle that runs well enough to get me where I need to go every day. Reliable transportation is not something to take for granted. 

Years ago, a friend gifted me with this verse:

"the Lord will watch over your coming and going both now and forevermore."-Psalm 121:8

It is a simple reminder that we can make plans and have big ideas, but Yahweh is Lord over it all.

I need to be grateful in the sweet moments and patient in the waiting spots. I need to offer thanks for reliable transportation.

Today, I am grateful for reliable transportation. 

Discernment

Daily Gratitude Year 14-Day 272: Today, I am grateful for discernment.

When you are looking to build a team, it is good to be surrounded with people who have discernment. 

Discernment is wisdom that comes from God. His Spirit urges us in directions we may not take if it were not for His presence in our lives. 

Everything in discernment of spirits is directed toward action: toward firmly accepting what is of God and equally firmly rejecting what is not. -Timothy A. Gallagher

Knowing what is good and of God and knowing what is not is a powerful kind of knowledge. 

"The person without the Spirit does not accept the things that come from the Spirit of God but considers them foolishness, and cannot understand them because they are discerned only through the Spirit." -1 Corinthians 2:14

There are times that you know God is leading. Sometimes you are equally sure He is blocking the way. Sometimes He lets us have our way, because we will not let it go. Discernment leans into His Spirit, His will, and His way. They are the whispers and urges that we cannot explain. 

Today, I am grateful for discernment.

Seekers

Daily Gratitude Year 14-Day 271: Today, I am grateful for the seekers.

My mind quickly went to the Harry Potter series game of Quidditch. The seekers were the ones trying to capture the "snitch" that ends the game. It is played on flying brooms. Each team has seven players on flying brooms (yes, it is fantasy). Here are the teams: 

Chasers (3 players): Their main objective is to score goals by throwing the Quaffle through one of the opponent's three hoops, earning 10 points for each goal.

Beaters (2 players): They use bats to hit Bludgers away from their teammates and towards the opposing team, protecting their Chasers and Keeper.

Keeper (1 player): This player guards the goal hoops, attempting to block the opposing team's Chasers from scoring.

Seeker (1 player): The Seeker's primary role is to catch the Golden Snitch, which is worth 150 points and ends the game when caught.

The Harry Potter illustration may seem odd to some, but it was such a great reminder of the many ways we are all seekers. The enemy of our soul sends bludgers (flying iron balls) to knock us off course. Our human minds are easily distracted by other things. We are told to seek first the Kingdom of God. What are His priorities? Do we make them ours? Are we seekers?

"But seek first the kingdom of God and his righteousness, and all these things will be added to you." -Matthew 6:33

"All the things" has become a common phrase. In Him, "all the things" is a true sense of peace, contentment, and knowing we are loved is enough. He is our "enough."

“Ask and it will be given to you; seek and you will find; knock and the door will be opened to you. For everyone who asks receives; the one who seeks finds; and to the one who knocks, the door will be opened." -Matthew 7:7-8

Today, I am grateful for the seekers.

His Enduring Word

 

Daily Gratitude Year 14-Day 270: Today, I am grateful for His enduring Word. 

Isaiah 40:8 states: "The grass withers, the flower fades, but the word of our God will stand forever." This verse emphasizes the transient nature of life and the enduring nature of God's word.

There are so many echoes from the Old Testament into the New Testament. It is a constant reminder that the O.T. foreshadows the N.T. and the N.T. reveals the mysteries in the O.T. I love to note them in my Bible margins. Here is one for the Isaiah 40:8 passage:

1 Peter 1:24-25 echoes this sentiment, stating: "For all flesh is like grass and all its glory like the flower of grass. The grass withers, and the flower falls, but the word of the Lord endures forever."

What are the things that endure? When we reach a certain age, we realize that 50 years goes by pretty fast. We have now put a second roof on our home, because we have been here 30 years. The first one did not seem to be that long ago. Time is the strangest thing, even to our human minds. For our eternal God, David notes that "a day is a thousand years and a thousand years is a day." No wonder our ideas, plans and time frames do not match up with his. 

Our God breath... our soul breath... brought dust to life. 

" then the Lord God formed the man of dust from the ground and breathed into his nostrils the breath of life, and the man became a living creature." Genesis 2:7 

God breathed. I love that part! His Word endures and it is good. His breath gave us life. Jesus's last breath on the cross paid our sin debt. His first victory breath in resurrection ensures us victory, too. The grave is not the end. Where we spend eternity is an invitation, a decision, and a destination anchored in a free-will decision that leads to a real relationship, hope, and a future. From Genesis to Revelation, it is a continuing story of His love for us. 

Today, I am grateful for His enduring Word. 

Sunrise & Sunset

 

Daily Gratitude Year 14-Day 269: Today, I am grateful for te sunrise and sunset. 

From the rising of the sun to its setting, the name of the Lord is to be praised! -Psalm 113:3

Before electricity, sunrise and sunset were markers for the work day. Some things required a lantern before dawn or after sunset, but for the majority of labor happened between those two day markers.

Sunrise always feels like a fresh start. From sunset to sunrise, there is rest and restoration. The calm and quiet that follows the sunset helps us unwind, if we let it. 

Sunrise and sunset are the beautiful bookends on each day. 

Today, I am grateful for the sunrise and sunset. 

The Seasons in September

 

Daily Gratitude Year 14-Day 268: Today, I am grateful for the seasons in September.

We joke in the Midwest that "if you do not like the weather, wait ten minutes." That is extreme, but we really can have three seasons in a day or two. It tends to be when we see tornadoes and other severe weather. 

It happened a couple of times this past 12 months and it will happen again. From unseasonable highs to unseasonable lows, the earth prepares for the change one day at a time. 

"We know that in September, we will wander through the warm winds of summer's wreckage. We will welcome summer's ghost." -Henry Rollins

Everyone seems to be digging out the lightweight fall colors from the closet. Earthy tones with a kiss of bright colors coming from the same oranges, reds, and yellows that color the trees. I noticed an elm on the way home that was green on the bottom with flaming yellow leaves as a crown. It was stunning. My friends Don and Stephanie would call noticing the tree "joy spotting." It certainly brought me joy. 

There’s an opportune time to do things, a right time for everything on the earth. King Solomon wrote these words in Ecclesiastes 3:2-8

A right time for birth and another for death,
A right time to plant and another to reap,
A right time to kill and another to heal,
A right time to destroy and another to construct,
A right time to cry and another to laugh,
A right time to lament and another to cheer,
A right time to make love and another to abstain,
A right time to embrace and another to part,
A right time to search and another to count your losses,
A right time to hold on and another to let go,
A right time to rip out and another to mend,
A right time to shut up and another to speak up,
A right time to love and another to hate,
A right time to wage war and another to make peace.

Seasons come and they go. Savor the good. Make time to spot the joy. Look for the colors around you. Be prepared for whatever the day brings. Lovely September is nearly spent. 

Today, I am grateful for the seasons in September.

Children's Books

Daily Gratitude Year 14-Day 267: Today, I am grateful for children's books. 

Children's literature has always been a favorite of mine. I knew as a young adult that "The Velveteen Rabbit" was special. It wrapped up love, hope, loss, loyalty, grief, and healing in a way that adult fiction could not without being depressing. 

"There are some themes, some subjects. too large for adult fiction; they can only be dealt with adequately in a children's book." Philip Pullman

Perhaps it is because children do not tiptoe around the hard stuff. They dive right in. They cry the tears. They feel the pain. They get mad and sad, but they press on until they get to a better ending. They celebrate the little things, too. 

Winnie the Pooh has not been in a gratitude post for a while, but it may be time to revisit some of my favorite quotes. That bear of "very little brain" had much wisdom about living life well with an eclectic group of characters surrounding him. 

Even in our Sunday School lessons, we pull out the scriptures with powerful stories of God's willingness to not give up on humans. Some of my favorites are of the ones who endured hard situations and trusted His heart. From a mother putting her baby in a basket to be found by an Egyptian princess in order to save his life to three young men who faced a fiery furnace before they would bow to an idol, the Bible passages made into children's stories deal with some hard stuff. Joseph, who was sold into slavery by his brothers and David, the shepherd boy who would be king, taught us about God's presence in the good times, the hard times, and in the details of our daily lives.  

Jesus used stories when he wanted people to understand hard concepts. 

"Jesus spoke all these things to the crowd in parables; he did not say anything to them without using a parable." -Matthew 13:34

As young parents, the book "I Love You, Forever" could barely be read without choking up and Chase asked for it over and over one trip to Michigan (before Walker was born). Even in our twenties, we had seen enough of the circle of life to be impacted by the story. 

Feel free to add your favorite children's books in the comments. 

Today, I am grateful for children's books. 

Your Best is Enough

Daily Gratitude Year 14-Day 266: Today, I am grateful for gentle reminders that your best is enough. 

"How much wood would a woodchuck chuck if a woodchuck would chuck wood?" -old tongue twister

Some have never heard the tongue twister. It is essential to understanding the humor in this image. A woodchuck is a groundhog. It is the largest of the ground squirrels and is in the squirrel family. 

"You are holding tension here in your neck. Just let it go. Nobody really cares how much wood you would chuck, even if you did chuck wood..."

When I saw this I giggled. Sometimes we all need to be reminded to relax. Not every day needs to be a contest or a race to the finish line. Do what you can. Do your best. Then, let the rest wait for a new day. Find joy in the daily doing. Be content with the "enough." 

“Whatever you do, work at it with all your heart, as working for the Lord, not for human masters.” -Colossians 3:23

I love this reminder to do our best and for His glory... not our own accolades. He delights in His children, with all of our quirks and imperfections. We are planted in places with work to do. When we do it with all of our hearts we can know it pleases our Lord. 

Today, I am grateful for gentle reminders that your best is enough. 

Homeless Books

 

Daily Gratitude Year 14-Day 265: Today, I am grateful to collect "homeless" books. 

There are only 100 days left in 2026. The years move swiftly by. I've been trying to get as much reading in as possible (yes, I read with audiobooks) because it is a great way to relax and unwind. If I read with a book in hand, I fall asleep. Audio books allow me the freedom to multi-task. 

I have never seen this quote:

"Second hand books are wild books,  homeless books; they have come together in vast flocks of variegated feather, and have a charm which the domesticated volumes of the library lack." -Virginia Woolf (1882-1941)

I love second hand book stores as much as new ones. I have certain books I always look for Og Mandino books to buy so I can give them away. You never know what you will find. 

I just finished the book "The Frozen River," a historical mystery novel by Ariel Lawhon. It is fiction but it is based on the life of Martha Ballard, an 18th century midwife and her part in the trial of Judge Joseph North. Her husband, Ephraim, would buy her second hand books as a gift along with leather bound blank journals for her to write about her days. He had taught her to read and write after their marriage on December 19, 1754. Both were treasured in those days, because such things were not plentiful. 

A second hand book with all of the pages was a true treasure. I can barely imagine life without easy access to books. The book is part fiction as the author clearly states, but it gives a deep insight into what life was like in those days. Second hand books were woven into the story. On one instance, "she wondered how Ephraim had found such a copy, with no pages missing."  

We take a book with no missing pages as an expectation, even in second-hand book stores. I love Woolf's visual of second hand books as wild and homeless. It is a beautiful flip on what some consider "an old, used book." I am with Woolf and Martha Ballard.

Shout out to Stephanie Brown for this book recommendation. It was a spectacular journey from start to finish. 

As I sought out a passage, this one reminded me that the early disciples of the Gospel are just like us. 

"When you come bring the cloak which I left at Troas with Carpus, and the books, especially the parchments." -2 Timothy 4:13

Today, I am grateful to collect "homeless" books. 

Low Bowing Branches

 

Daily Gratitude Year 14-Day 264: Today, I am grateful for low bowing branches.

"The branch that bears the most fruit bows the lowest."

What is the story behind the branch that bears the most fruit? For most, there was some kind of pruning in the process. It has not been neglected and left on its own. It receives care. It gets cut back at the right time to result in new strength and more fruit at the end of the season.   

The branch that bears the most fruit has been tended by the gardener or farmer. It has been watered and pruned. Water is life giving and life sustaining. Pruning is painful, but it forces the plant to become resilient. Pruning makes it stronger. It results in more fruit, but for season it can look sad as it builds a stronger branch.

“I am the vine; you are the branches. If you remain in me and I in you, you will bear much fruit; apart from me you can do nothing." -John 15:5

"Remain in me and I in you." Attached to the vine, we grow stronger. We are sustained in every season. Painful pruning is not punishment, but care. It keeps us closer to the vine. "No pain - no gain" is an exercise motto that encourages athletes to push through the hard days. Press on.

The stronger the branch, the more fruit it can bear. When a branch is loaded with fruit, it bows the lowest which makes it assessible to those who need it the most. The season of pruning in the painful part of the story, but it is what makes the harvest rich and reachable. Loaded low bowing branches feed the hungry. 

Today, I am grateful for low bowing branches.

Good Directions

Daily Gratitude Year 14-Day 263: Today, I am grateful for good directions.

Good directions make a difference. This day of GPS assistance has us quite spoiled. It builds our courage to go places we have never been. Good direction gives us courage. 

He is either the Lord of our lives, or He isn’t. Sometimes we wrestle with His will. Other times, it flows naturally. There is an element of practice in submission to His will. It might be compared to any exercise, sport, or task that has been practiced until there is  a sense of “muscle memory.” 

We can feel when we are walking in His will, and when we are not. Our human nature fights against it. The battle for control can cheat us of  the peace and contentment that He desires to bestow on His children. 

“Hear, O Israel: The Lord our God, the Lord is one. Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your strength. These commandments that I give you today are to be on your hearts.  Impress them on your children. Talk about them when you sit at home and when you walk along the road, when you lie down and when you get up.  Tie them as symbols on your hands and bind them on your foreheads.  Write them on the doorframes of your houses and on your gates.” 

-Deuteronomy 6:4-9

Good instruction and good directions make all the difference in our days. 

Today, I am grateful for good directions.

Choose What We Water

 

Daily Gratitude Year 14-Day 262: Today, I am grateful we can choose which thoughts we water. 

"It's the thoughts we water each day that become the garden we live in." 

The summer is slipping into fall. The flowers we have enjoyed all summer are being replaced by more cold weather hardy plants. They all need water to survive. Water makes the difference in what lives and flourishes. 

Our thoughts can act as "water," so we must... at times... guard the thoughts that flow from our heart.  

"Above all else, guard your heart, for everything you do flows from it." -Proverbs 4:23 

Today, I am grateful we can choose which thoughts we water. 

Huffle-Buffs: Old Faves

Daily Gratitude Year 14-Day 261: Today, I am grateful for "huffle-buffs."

Huffle-Buffs (Scots) those old, worn out, yet comfortable items of clothing. 

Finding new words always feels like finding hidden treasure. This one has Scottish origins. It is an old Scots dialect word.

I've seen it used to describe clothing, but blankets, too. For me, it would especially work for some old coats and favorite shoes. I did my part to keep Fred's Shoe Repair in business when it was a convenient drop off in Peoria. Fred would always start with "this is the last time we can repair these boots or shoes." I knew he was right, but it was hard. He was gentle and seemed to understand. That final warning gave me time to start looking for the right replacement. 

I think the huffle-buffs are the things that by the time you are ready to part with them, you would be embarrassed to donate them. They are cozy, comfy, and spark sweet memories. Just writing about them makes me smile. 

"But if we have food and clothing, we will be content with that." -1 Timothy 6:8

To be comfortable and content is as good as it gets. 

Today, I am grateful for "huffle-buffs."

Who Stands With You?

Daily Gratitude Year 14-Day 260: Today, I am grateful for the ones who stand in the rain with you. 

"It's about who stands in the rain with you, when they also have a choice to be dry. Remember that."

When I saw this, Earworm started singing an old song by Superchick. "Stand in the Rain." (If you are new here, Earworm sings the songs that get stuck in your head and won't go away.) It is a great old song that is filled with the reminder that there are hard times, but we get through them. There are times we simply have to stand in the rain and stand our ground. There are times the rain falls. 

"Do not be afraid of them; the Lord your God himself will fight for you.” -Deuteronomy 3:22

There will be lonely days, hard days, and rainy days, but we are not alone. 

Knowing that, when you find a human who chooses to stand with you in the rain when they could choose to be dry... that is someone to remember, honor, and cherish.  Simple acts of kindness can feel like an umbrella on a rainy day... or hope when it seems lost. 

Today, I am grateful for the ones who stand in the rain with you. 

Nice Sounds

 

Daily Gratitude Year 14-Day 259: Today, I am grateful for nice sounds.

A List of Nice Sounds:

*Rain on the window pane
*Leaves rustling in the wind
*A crackling fire
*Turning book pages
*Distant church bells
*Quiet Voices
*Crickets chirping on a still summer night. 

In a world full of noise and distractions, a reminder to focus on "nice sounds" is a worthy way to spend a little part of the day. 

Crickets are chirping right now. The sound of an early morning garbage pick up reminds me to be thankful for the service. The sound of the coffee maker brewing is always sweet music to the ears and the scent is divine. The gentle tap on the computer keys is soothing for me. 

Nice sounds calm us and give a gentle entry into a new day or a restful one when day is done. 

“Sing to the Lord a new song; sing His praise from the ends of the earth.” – Isaiah 42:10

A new song can be a gentle hum. I am reminded that praise does not need to be shouted as I listen to this morning's quiet combination of nature mixed with morning sounds. 

Today, I am grateful for nice sounds.

Be the Light

 

Daily Gratitude Year 14-Day 258: Today, I am grateful for reminders to be the light.

"Maybe your purpose is to light the way for others who are still searching..." 

"Light" has been a word I've used in the past to ponder and pray on. It is still one of my favorites. The science of light is masterfully designed by a God who called it "good" in the very beginning. 

Light is so powerful that a single candle can break the darkness. It is not easily hidden. How many lives has the lighthouse saved over the centuries? When all seems hopeless or lost, light breaks through the darkness with gentle power. 

As the days are getting shorter, we tend to treasure the light more. We appreciate the time we have in daylight, because we know it is limited in the fall and winter days. 

“You are the light of the world. A town built on a hill cannot be hidden." -Matthew 5:15

You do not know who is searching for the Light of the World. Shine on, anyway. 

Today, I am grateful for reminders to be the light.

The Little Things

 

Daily Gratitude Year 14-Day 257: Today, I am grateful for the little things.  

"And one day you realize it was never about the big things. You realize it's actually about the little moments that feel like magic. It's about the simplest of seconds that make you smile. It's about the genuine experiences that fill your heart with joy. It's about the conversations that make you believe in kindness and compassion. It's about the hugs you want to hold for that little bit longer. It's about surrounding yourself with people that feel like sunshine. It's about the moments of peace and stillness that prove how beautiful the world can be. It was never about the big things."  -Pooh Memes 

There is a television channel, a social media platform, and an internet destination that sows the seeds of discontentment in our hearts. We forget how truly blessed we are when we are bombarded with messages about better, best, and more. I am reminded that "less is more" in many cases. 

Focus on the honest, the simple, and the true blessings that fill our days. Hot, clean water is one of them. Heat and air-conditioning is another. A car that runs, food in the pantry and plenty of toilet paper are daily blessings we take for granted. People who are happy to see you when you arrive. Hugs. These things are priceless. 

"In everything give thanks; for this is the will of God in Christ Jesus for you." 1 Thessalonians 5:18

This week, look for the little things that are really the big things. 

Pumpkin Festival Week

Daily Gratitude Year 14-Day 256: Today, I am grateful for Pumpkin Festival Week. 

It is almost here... and I cannot wait. The anticipation feels a little like Christmas in Morton, IL. The children have been counting the days. Parents have a plan for extra expenses that come with the festival, and figure out a way to make it all work. Our little community comes together (Morton & Groveland) with the power of volunteerism and a Chamber of Commerce that performs small miracles getting everything ready and keeping it running. 

Some joke it is Morton's World's Fair, but in truth, people have come from around the world to be a part of the celebration. They come for the pumpkin ice cream, the pumpkin donuts, the pumpkin chili, and so many other special festival related favorites. 

CBS did a spot on their Sunday Morning show and it was exciting to see so many familiar faces, including the ones cutting the ribbon (next door neighbor Jim Ackerman & Dave Neuhauser (church family and Walker's birthday buddy) and making the chili (Joe Sander & Troy Teater). I need to rewatch it, as I missed some faces the first time or two through the video. 

The video shows the love for "all things pumpkin" here in Morton, but it shows more. The young ladies interviewed were delightful. I giggled at their word choice when asked if there was anything they didn't like... and they used "vile" to describe the smell that comes with the rotting pumpkin carcasses when Nestle/Libby's is finished with them. It is a temporary smell, but for a time when the wind is right... "vile" is a kind word for the aroma. 

I still remember Walker saying he rolled down the window to take in the "pumpkin stink" when he came home for the festival his first year away at college. Allison Vastine and I talked about it, too. That aroma is associated with so many happy, fun, and fabulous memories, it becomes easy to overlook it. 

The more pleasant scents are elephant ears, corn dogs, pork chops, brats, and rib eye on the Pumpkin Grill. It is the best of carnival foods, rides, and games. The parade is always long and filled with reminders of the people, business, and churches in our neighborhood. How early is too early to put out your parade chairs? 

Jefferson School (K-6th) has a front row seat and it amazes me that they can get any learning accomplished in the festival chaos, but they do. Most Jefferson teachers weave pumpkins and the festival into whatever they are teaching that week. They are proud to have the festival on school grounds. 

My verse of the day was perfect:

"Finally, all of you, be like-minded, be sympathetic, love one another, be compassionate and humble." -1 Peter 3:8

We will all be burning the candle on both ends this week and worth every minute of lost sleep as we try to fit it all in. Remember to be kind and forgiving. 

In three more wake ups... it is Uncle Bud's Apple Cider Slushie Day!!! A slushie a day until the festival goes away and sometimes two on Saturday. (This is my personal obsession... although I love pumpkin.)

Today, I am grateful for Pumpkin Festival Week.  

Commanded to Rejoice

 

Daily Gratitude Year 14-Day 255: Today, I am grateful for power in the commandment to rejoice. 

"Rejoice in the Lord always. I will say it again: Rejoice!" -Philippians 4:4

There is an old praise chorus that is this scripture set to song. It is easily sung in a round and the children always enjoyed it. There is something about singing in a round that brings something fresh to worship. I love how it starts out with just a few voices and ends in the same way. 

It is easy to fall into the worries and the woes as we walk through our day, but we are given clear direction. We are to rejoice in the Lord, not our circumstances... because they can change quickly. His love and faithfulness are steady and true... even when we have troubles. 

Our niece, Kenzie, never said she had a problem when she was little. She would say, "I have troubles." I still smile when I think of it, not because it was funny, but because she was so sincere in her declaration. She was independent and didn't necessarily want help. Sometimes, she just wanted an encouraging word until she figured it out. We could almost see her thinking. Then a big smile would come and she would be on her way with a happy heart. 

Sometimes we have to sit with the troubles for a bit, but even in trials, we are reminded to rejoice in His faithfulness in all of our days. 

"True happiness is to rejoice in the truth, for to rejoice in the truth is to rejoice in You, O God, who are the truth... Those who think that there is another kind of happiness look for joy elsewhere, but theirs is not true joy."  -Saint Augustine

Today, I am grateful for power in the commandment to rejoice.

Times of Remembering

Daily Gratitude Year 14-Day 254: Today, I am grateful for times of remembering.

25 years... it seems like forever ago in some ways and in others, the raw emotion of those days is never far from the surface. The skies went strangely silent. There was no air traffic for days. 

The names, the faces, and the stories kept coming... from the planes, from the towers, from the firehouses, and from the families. The courage and sacrifice of our first responders and heroic responses from ordinary people caught in an extraordinary moment in time. 

"Greater love has no one than this, that someone lay down his life for his friends." -John 15:13

Words are not quite adequate to capture the feeling we found ourselves swimming in for the first days and throughout that first year post 9-11. It was as if we were holding our breath, waiting for what came next. 

In some ways, that breath has never been fully exhaled. Still, the other thing I remember the most about those days is how it united us as a country. For a season, we were just Americans wrapped in the strength of everything "Old Glory" represents. We are better together. A house divided cannot stand. Character, integrity, and love are stronger than hate. 

I will never forget the many "God Wink" stories of people late to work that day for appointments, missed trains, first days of school, and more. It is truly shocking how many were spared because of unexpected inconveniences or one a year live events. I think of it as "the shadow of His wings." 

May our love be stronger than hate. May we grow in wisdom and understanding. Let us seek to tune our heart to His Spirit, so that we sense evil when it is present. May we love mercy, seek justice, and walk humbly with our God.

Today, I am grateful for times of remembering.