The gift of now

The deer danced a ballet thru my yard on Wednesday night.

I didn't see it happen but they left their hoof prints in the clean white snow.

I love the way their paths crisscross.

Some went up into the woods on the left...

others on the right...

And two made their bed right here in the middle of our front yard.

It appears there may have been a scuffle to see who would get the spot closest to the house.

I imagine there was some head butting involved.

While I was investigating, my big beautiful hawk stopped to watch.

Look hard and you'll see him in the middle of the tree. (You can click on the picture for a better look). Technically he isn't 'mine' but he lives in the treetops around our house so we claim him as ours. He is enormous when he spreads his wings but is shy around the camera so this is as close as I could get. He is beautiful.

It's been a tough week hasn't it?

I like to keep my blog light hearted but sometimes I am overwhelmed by all the sadness in this world.

I'm trying to read through the Bible this year in chronological order which means right now I'm in the book of Job. I have to say it's a hard book to read. There are some books of the bible I like to read over and over again but I tend to avoid the book of Job. Reading Job reminds me that bad things happen to good people. People like Job.

And innocent little girls in Arizona.

And moms who blog.

A popular blogger and author (Joanne at The Simple Wife) suffered a major stroke this week. She is not even 40 years old and has two young daughters. I don't know Joanne personally but I really enjoy her writing and her story has touched many. Her condition remains very serious and I know her family appreciates your prayers.

So many times when we hear about something awful happening we somehow take comfort in the idea that it could never happen to us.

But not this...this could happen to us, to anyone.

All week I've been thinking about how much we all count on having tomorrow.

We are so sure we'll have tomorrow.

We say later...tomorrow...to so much of life.

Later I'll do it. Tomorrow is the day I'll get to it. Tomorrow I will start fresh...

do better, work harder, be kinder to my husband, more patient with my children, more patient with the people I meet as I go about my day... more diligent in living a purpose filled life.

But then tomorrow comes and then another tomorrow and we carry on as if there is always tomorrow.

Until something comes along and reminds us differently and only then it seems

do we really step back and take stock of how we are spending the days and hours and minutes of our own lives.

It's Friday.

A new day.

A clean slate.

Full of hours and minutes and moments.

Full of God's grace and forgiveness.

Full of possibility and opportunity and hope.

A gift.

A gift meant not to be squandered or wasted but instead,

opened and savored and used.

What will I do with today?

Whatever it is, I want it to be on purpose.

"I have told you these things, so that in me you may have peace. In this world you will have trouble. But take heart! I have overcome the world." John 16:33