“Yesterday’s the past, tomorrow’s the future, but today is a gift. That’s why it’s called the present,” Bill Keene. I love that quote. Today has been a beautiful present with its blue sky crowded with purple and gray clouds that never emptied their bellies of rain. My newly planted vegetables need some rain on their leaves. Late afternoon the sun pushed the clouds away and beamed down through the leaves and bamboo so beautifully. The sun is as bright now in her silver gown as a newly minted silver dollar. She’s getting ready for the sunset pageant, waiting for Father Sky to take her hand and escort her down the horizon.

The sky is the palest of blue, no clouds to take the watercolors from Mother Nature’s brushes. Mother Nature is lighting an orange wildfire blazing across the horizon as the dusk darkens the day’s gloaming. My favorite part of the day, watching the cardinals frolic on the feeders, all alone without any other songbirds with them. The male cardinals are so crimson they almost seem fluorescent. And their demure brides, dressed in fawn brown and donkey grays, patiently waiting their turns on the feeders. As the sun beds down for the day I turn for one last look before I head inside for the night and watch the moon and its twinkling stars take over the duties of the night’s sky.

My low tire pressure light came on today. I took my car to the tire store and I had three nails in the back tire on the driver’s side! I had complained so about the tire pressure notice on the dashboard, thinking the weather changes were affecting the tires, and now I’m so thankful for that notice. Ever had a nail in your tire, an unexpected disruption of the day, an unexpected challenge that has to be dealt with before life can continue on its way. Sometimes we have nails in our lives, challenges and changes, where we need God’s grace to help us overcome the flat tires. These trials remind us to seek God for guidance. He is always willing to listen and to help us get through the adversities of everyday life.

In biblical scripture nails are associated with Christ’s crucifixion. In our spiritual journey a nail can remind us we need to take time to be serious about nurturing our faith. Just like we can’t ignore a nail in our car’s tire we can’t ignore nails in our journey as a Christian. Nails in scripture are powerful symbols of Jesus’ sacrifice for our sins. Nails also symbolize the strength and the stability of trusting God to lead us on our life’s journey.

Last night in my prayers I turned my anxiety of calling the Social Security Administration over to God. I had received a notice from them about changing over from survivor benefits to my Social Security because I would draw more. I had to call them by a specific date and I had called several times a day for several days. I was so worried and frustrated. Having to call brought back all the memories of dealing with Social Security when Chief died. People were not allowed to come inside the Social Security office and it was just a nightmare of paperwork, waiting for calls, and calling them back. Was told once if I didn’t answer their next call my benefits would be delayed two months.

So last night I decided, as I said my prayers, to transfer my worry about calling Social Security to God’s shoulders. I just prayed for patience so I could quit worrying about contacting the Social Security office. Got up this morning and on the first call to the Social Security Administration I put the extension number in and got the correct representative. I’m just saying…nothing is too trivial to put on God’s shoulders to give you peace to rest. Maybe it’s my childlike faith but I believe God put that call through to take that worry away.

God is good, y’all!

“A bad attitude is like a flat tire. If you don’t change it, you won’t go anywhere.” — Joyce Meyer