Today was so beautiful, azure blue sky, no clouds in sight. I was looking up in the sky behind my great-grandmother’s home across the street and I saw an American bald eagle soaring on the wind currents, winding higher and higher in its circle toward the heavens. Been living here three years and this is the second time I’ve seen a bald eagle. So beautiful with its long strong wings outstretched, the sun kissing its white head and tail. It was low enough on the first circle that I could see his yellow hooked beak. They are such intelligent looking birds, their stare so intent. I can see why our forefathers chose the eagle as the national bird. It’s definitely a symbol of power and authority.

Filled up the bird feeders and here came the birds and squirrels. I really need to spray the bird feeder poles with cooking spray again but it was cold and I know Fatty and his squirrel friends were hungry and needed to fill their bellies to stay warm on this cold night. The doves are so funny when squirrels are eating around the bottom of the feeders. They just bob around the squirrels and they all ignore each other. Neither one gets out of the way of the other. It’s comical to watch them.

Sat in the lady den and watched out the windows as Mother Nature painted her sunset masterpiece. She dipped her watercolor brushes in shades of golden honey, light turquoise and pale blue, stacking her brush strokes on top of each other, masterfully blending the lines together, brushing her colors across the horizon. The sun walked across her twilight stage dressed in a bright silver sequined prom gown, blinding in the last light of day. Father Sky tucked the sun in under her cloud covers of gold, kissed her goodnight, and waked the moon and the stars to welcome the night. He threw the jeweled stars into the night canopy and covered the sky in twinkling diamonds. Just beautiful to gaze upon this cold night.

Love this quote by Henry Van Dyke. “Use what talent you posses: the woods would be very silent if no birds sang there except those that sang best.” Never thought about that but some birds do have awkward songs and loud noisy tweets. But together with other birds they sing a beautiful cantata. We all have different talents and God given gifts. God has given us special talents and he wants us to use these gifts to serve him and serve others. The Bible says, “In his grace, God has given us different gifts for doing certain things well.” Doesn’t matter if we’re not the soloist in the band or the choir. The instruments and back up singers are a vital part of life’s symphony. Each one dependent on the other.

All our talents are different but each one serves a purpose. We need to look for opportunities to serve God and use our talents in our daily lives. I think we all have a purpose in life. The purpose is not to be happy but to live and be useful to society, to be compassionate and kind to our fellow travelers in life, to show others the way to God.

“People are brought into your life for a reason. They are there to balance you, to guide you, to help you see and embrace differences. For the moments they touch your life, whether lasting or short lived, they were there because you needed each other to grow.” — @XtreemAthletics