Beautiful Morning

In the ordinary, do you ever find the extraordinary?

Our dog needed surgery, so we had to watch him closely. I wrapped his foot, snapped on his leash, then took him outside. He stopped on the deck, not wanting to go further.

Through eyes, ears, and nose, he took everything in. And just observing his sensitivity, I became aware of God's presence.

A bee quickly buzzed past in the distance, and landed inside a flower. On my left was a Rose of Sharon bush. Its beautiful multi-tones of pink flowers and green leaves were so delicate and lovely, just peeking over the railing of our deck. Its beauty suddenly captivated me. I thanked the Lord for creating it and for placing it there, because we didn't plant it — one day it just began to grow in front of our deck.

My eyes followed the top of the deck to the right, and stopped at a large potted plant from my daughter. Amazingly, there was another large, bright, red flower atop the plant again. I had lost track of the number of times that this plant had blossomed since I received it the previous May. I was just stunned by the plant's beauty and delicacy that only God could create.

I thanked Him for creating such breathtaking things of beauty, and that they would even be in our yard. I thought of Genesis, how God spoke everything into existence, and how good everything was that He made, and I thanked Him.

Again, my eyes went further along to the right where my dog was sitting. I told the Lord, "Thank You for making my dog so beautiful. I love him so much."

Then once again, my eyes went along, but this time, landed on … me. Suddenly, I found myself very self-conscious. I was wearing my husband's slippers, an oversized grey T-shirt, and pajama bottoms, with crazy bed-head hair and in need of makeup.

But softly and gently, I sensed the Lord impress on my heart that He made me, and that I was beautiful, too. Having felt so unworthy, I began to cry as I was surprised by God's amazing love.

1 Samuel 16:7b – The Lord seeth not as man seeth; for man looketh on the outward appearance, but the Lord looketh on the heart. (KJV)

Ecclesiastes 3:11a – He hath made every thing beautiful in his time. (KJV)

Do you sense the Lord saying something like that to you?

Prayer: Dear Father in heaven, thank You for surrounding us with the beauty of all that You have created. May we bless You, Lord, in return, with the beauty of holy lives. In Jesus' name, we pray. Amen.