The sun, the moon, the stars..

His love endures forever

Psalm 136:1, 9-10 (NIV)

Give thanks to the Lord, for He is good, and His love endures forever....the sun to govern the day, His love endures forever. The moon and stars to govern the night; His love endures forever.

Yesterday was a spectacular day here in NE Ohio. Brilliant sun against a crystal-clear blue sky. The temperature was in the upper 70s with low humidity and a slight breeze. It was a perfect spring day to work outside, getting the yard in order and the patio cleaned, ready for summer. I turned up the outdoor speakers to my favorite music, z88.3 Christian radio, out of Orlando, and got to work.

• I power-washed the back patio stones and cleaned all the furniture.

• The hot tub was opened, de-winterized, and cleaned the day before by a service. I filled the tub and balanced the pH.

• I removed the winter windows from the two patio doors and replaced them with summer screens.

• I finished most of the leaf pick-up and weed pulling around the front patio; I’ll finish the rest tomorrow after I mow the yard.

Teegan was nearby, basking in the sun, supervising all the work that was being done.

We then sat on the front porch swing for a bit, observing the green and blooming surroundings, including the wildflower patch with its red, soft flowers, which will grow yellow, blue, and white as the summer progresses. The birds were chirping and white butterflies were flitting about.

God’s beauty was abounding and starting to wake up after a light winter nap.

Last night, as a wonderful reward, I fixed a creative dinner and then later got in the hot tub for another 20 minutes of relaxation and observation of God’s wonders. The half-moon was brightly lit and directly overhead. As clear as the day sky was, the night sky was equally clear. Even though the ground light blocked out most of the stars, a few were still seen against the black sky.

While in the tub, I couldn’t help but marvel at God’s glory – the nature sounds around me (creek frogs chirping and an owl hooting), the smells of grass, and the wonders of the moon’s shine. While taking it all in, giving thanks to God was overwhelming. A mere nine months ago I was barely able to navigate the length of my short driveway and had to do that with a cane. I opted to close down the hot tub for the winter because I knew I couldn’t take care of it, nor could I get in it by myself.

Focus on How Far You’ve Come

It's human nature to focus on what still needs to be fixed.

I heard it all the time when I was seeing patients in my office: When 90% of a person’s complex symptoms were resolved, the comment and the focus was on “…but my knee still hurts.”

I work hard to stay focused on the monumental steps forward I’ve made during this recovery. The nagging 10 % of physical issues will go away with time.

It’s so important during a recovery of any kind—physical, mental, emotional, and spiritual—to look at how far you’ve come. Whether it has been six weeks, six months, or six years, it’s the progress that matters, not perfection.

When people ask me, “How are you doing?”

I say with all honesty,

“I have done the many hours of hard physical work, which continues, but God did the heavy lifting in response to so many prayers from me and others.”

Today is another beautiful day. No matter the weather you are experiencing today, it’s external to you. Be grateful for all the progress you’ve made in your life, with your family, your spiritual growth, and your health.

This is the day the lord has made; Let us rejoice and be glad in it.

Psalm 118: 24   (HCSB)

Today’s Prayer:

Dear Heavenly Father, we are grateful for all You have created, externally in the sun, the moon, the stars, the earthly creations and creatures. We are even more grateful for the miracles and transformations that You have done internally for us.

As we continue to grow and learn, we know that all things, ALL THINGS, can be used for our benefit, to draw us closer to You and for Your purpose. Please put an urgency in our hearts; don’t let us waste a single minute feeling sorry for ourselves or wasting away watching mindless television shows or internet videos. Urge us to make use of every minute we have to accomplish something new for the Kingdom, even if that “new thing” is to learn to be quiet, seeking Your voice.

We thank You for every smidge of progress, even if we can’t see it in ourselves. Others notice. Most importantly, You notice. Thank You for Your blessings. In Jesus’ name, Amen.