Man it was southernly sultry today, hot and humid, blue skies and white clouds, steaming sunshine. Oldest brother and I sat on the porch with the box fan blowing on us. He perched in the swing like daddy, one leg up, one leg down, and I perched in the double rocking chair. We talked about our songbirds and our dogs. His dog Bear is a “chewing up everything machine.” Said he even chewed the buds off his rose bushes. Penelope was listening thinking she’s never chewed anything up but remembered stealing a few biscuits off Chief’s plate through the years. Guess the worse thing she’s done was eat half an apple pie I left on the kitchen table. She’s such a piglet!

No sunset pageant tickets for viewing sold tonight. Sunset arrived just as a heavy thunderstorm roared through my neighborhood. The bamboo bent with the wind and danced with the heavy rain showers, shaking their fronds and clinking their stalks together. When the rain moved on Mother Nature washed the sky a beautiful pale peach, flaming up the low horizon in a deep wash of reddish peach, painting the old oaks and magnolias limbs midnight black. The sky was wondrous but eerily mysteriously, like a warning of bad weather still to come.

The color of the sky made me think of that beautiful sunset in Gone with the Wind where Scarlet is silhouetted jet black against the dramatic deep orange of the sunset, vowing, “If I have to lie, steal, kill or cheat, I will never be hungry again…”. You have to see that movie on the theatre’s large screen to appreciate that magnificent sunset.

I have done nothing but sit around today and chew gum. Did manage to ride a few miles on my new bike. I watched a western movie and the language just did me in. Our world has lost its innocence, nothing is left for our imaginations. Life plays out right in front of us on a stage of no censorship. You can watch the news and get every detail of a crime so exacting you can commit it again yourself. Chief always said they “don’t report it, they teach us how to do it.”

Finally gave up on watching tv and decided to read for quotes to inspire me. This one by Samuel Taylor Coleridge got me thinking that today was about more than gum and tv. Coleridge said, “The happiness of life is made up of minute fractions — the little soon forgotten charities of a kiss or smile, a kind look, a heartfelt compliment, and the countless infinitesimals of pleasure and genial feeling.

I have been blessed by all of those things today — a happy phone conversation with my dearest friend, both of us perched on our church pew porches; very much appreciated compliments on my blog; a happy porch visit with oldest brother; a surprise cup of coffee from Stew in my favorite bird mug; a cool bedroom to escape the heat with a comfortable reading chair; a new box of chewing gum; a pitcher of sweet tea; a text from a friend with a photo of an interesting bug in her yard; smiles and waves from neighbors as they drove by; texted photos of my grandsons; bird songs; happy dog tail wags and happy cat meows. I’m truly blessed today and every day.

2 Corinthians 9:8 reads, “And God is able to bless you abundantly, so that in all things at all times, having all that you need, you will abound in every good work.” Our blessings don’t have to be counted as a show of fireworks. The smallest day to day things are our true blessings. When we thank God for our gifts we grow in faith, filling our hearts with peace, and joy, and hope. A thankful attitude can turn a cloudy day bright and sunny.

Mark 10:27 reads, “There are some things that people cannot do, but God can do anything.” The whole world depends on God. When we don’t know which road to take we need to rely on God to show us the way, trusting him to take care of us when we face trying situations and difficult decisions. When things are cloudy and storms appear, these are the times we need to be reminded to be thankful to God for all the sunshine in our lives.

God’s love strengthens us and gives us the power to keep going. He always knows what’s best for us. God’s blessings give us hope. Through our prayers and thanksgiving we can bless God for blessing us. Every day is a gift from the Lord and an opportunity to be a blessing in someone’s life.

“Stand in awe of Him, and be grateful for each and every thing that God has blessed you with.” — Robert Woeger