We should all be thankful for this beautiful fall day the Lord has blessed us with. Just look around at all the beauty surrounding us. I cannot remember the last time Father Sky sketched some clouds on his blue sky canvas. He’s giving Mother Nature a break from her painting. I wonder if he’s lost his box of pastels. I saw the moon in the sky this morning, hanging high, halfway under his ethereal reflection of the sun, a luminous pale white against the blue of the fall sky. He stayed up till 12 noon so I’m wondering if the sun’s goodnight kisses can wake him tonight. Could not find him and Jupiter last night but I did go out it twice to look for them.

The sunset was beautiful in its simplicity at dusk, a bright amber slice of lemon yellow sliding down into an gleaming crystal bowl of pink champagne punch. Father Sky probably got splashed when he leaned down to kiss the sun goodnight. Mother Nature’s palette has changed over to pale hues since she hasn’t had to paint the the clouds in vibrant reds and purples. These pale shades she’s dipped her brushes in are exquisite eye candy. I’ve just stared at the sunsets lately and tried to describe their magnificence. Only the Lord could give her such splendorous pale hues of color.

I was sitting in the swing looking out over the yard and seeing all of God’s handiwork and thinking how wondrous it is that we can see all the color in nature. How sad to be blind and never behold his wondrous works. I looked up in the oak tree and saw a squirrel, beautiful in its fur coat of gray sprinkled with rusty brown, his little tail constantly flickering. Sitting on the power line near the big oak was a male Baltimore oriole dressed in his rusty orange plumage, his wings a vest of black and white, surveying his surroundings in a regal pose, his black intelligent eyes on constant watch.

Continued looking around and followed a large yellow butterfly till it landed on a purple pansy bloom and tap danced while drinking nectar, the contrast so pretty of the purple and yellow shades. And my faithful cardinal friends in their scarlet cloaks, their mates colored fawn brown and orange, happily perching on the feeders and bird baths. And the little purple finches who look as if they bathed in a bath of raspberry juice, cheerfully arguing around their favorite feeder. Oh, and can’t leave out the fall foliage and the blooms of pansies and roses in my yard. Only Mother Nature and God’s watercolors could paint such a beautiful world.

We are blessed in so many ways on this planet Earth. God has colored our world with his love and his beauty and his light. How can we not be thankful to occupy a place in the heaven on earth he has created. He has entrusted us to care for his creation. In this season of Thanksgiving lets not forget to be thankful for our families and friends who travel through this life with us. Give thanks for all the blessings God has bestowed on our lives. Be a blessing to others.

Let’s not rush through our lives. Life is too short to waste a minute. Let’s take time to slow down and make a conscious effort to be present with our family and friends and ourselves. It’s really easier to rush through life constantly trying to do more so we’ll feel worthy. Slow down and you won’t miss out on all the simple things of life that make occupying space on this planet special.

Slowing down allows time for better decisions, deeper connections with family and friends, and allows you to truly focus on people and things that matter the most. You might be going slower but I bet you’ll go further and be happier on your journey through life.

I’ve learned you can’t rush life sitting in a porch swing!

“If you’re always racing to the next moment, what happens to the one you’re in? Slow down and enjoy the moment you’re in and live your life to the fullest.” ― Nanette Mathews