Got home from the dentist this morning and found a letter from Boss Lady in my mail box with a wonderful little prize inside, a miniature book of quotes titled Quotable Women, A collection of shared thoughts. She’s a sweet girl to think about me. I needed a prize after that dentist visit. I love it! Read it cover to cover, collecting the quotes that inspired me, recording them on the Notes app on my phone. The book will fit in my purse or pocket, perfect for pondering in the swing. Thanks again! 1 Peter 4:10 states, “As each has received a gift, use it to serve one another, as good stewards of God’s varied grace.” That little book will inspire my words and my thoughts, hopefully resonating with my readers and inspiring them.

“I like living. I have sometimes been wildly despairingly acutely, miserable wrecked with sorrow, but through it all I still know quite certainly that just to be alive is a grand thing,” Agatha Christie. Each day I thank God for another day of just being alive. Even in the darkest moments of sadness and suffering, simply being alive gives us time for prayer, time to call out for God’s grace to show us some light in the darkness. When we appreciate life, God can help us find joy even in the challenging times. Life is such a precious gift. When we value life we can find contentment in the simple experiences of every day life. Life’s simple moments give meaning and fulfillment to our lives.

Psalm 139:14 states, “I will praise You, for I am fearfully and wonderfully made; marvelous are your works, and that my soul knows very well.” God made each of us unique, “weaving us together in our mother’s wombs.” Scripture teaches us that each of us receives talents or gifts from God. Romans 12:6 reads, “In his grace, God has given us different gifts for doing certain things well.” We have to be faithful with our talents, serving others and doing God’s work. Scripture in Matthew urges Christians to be “faithful stewards” of our God given talents. Each day we need to look for opportunities to serve God. A.R. Bernard wrote, “Life is God’s gift to us. What we do with it is our gift to God.”

“Use your unique gifts and talents to make a difference in the world.” — Lailah Gifty Akita