Amit Ray writes, “The songs of the morning birds reverberates the glory of the eternal life.” The birds have been singing all morning, joining the raindrops and the wind chimes’ soft notes, their beautiful hymns of thanks reverberating through my neighborhood. I saw a small flock of American goldfinches in the old oak, the males dressed in their crayon yellow jackets, their mates in fawn brown dresses accented with pale yellow and olive plumage. The humming birds danced on the zinnias before an audience of four cardinals who were seated on the top rail of the white rocking chair near the flowers. I wanted to take photos of the hummingbirds but hated to walk over and disturb their performance. Going to watch for the hummingbirds tomorrow and be ready to capture their dance recital.

Forgot to check the mail yesterday so I was very happy to open my mailbox late afternoon and find a letter from Boss Lady and an Amazon package holding a book I ordered. I always save Boss Lady’s letter as a reward for doing a chore so I hurriedly finished loading the dishwasher and then tore open the letter. I’ll read the letter a thousand times…I love letters. She’s a faithful pen pal.

Sat down in the swing later and read 47 pages in my new book, The Unsettling of America, Culture and Agriculture by Wendell Berry. The book is about how America has taken “farming out of culture and away from the families…so we’re estranged from the intimate knowledge, love, and care of the land.” My daddy and my husband had a deep love for their family’s farm land and were good stewards of the earth. My brothers and oldest son care for their family’s farm land and are preserving it for future generations of their families.

Genesis 2:15 states, “The Lord God took the man and put him in the garden of Eden to work it and take care of it.” Bible scripture tells us that God calls us to be caretakers of the earth, entrusting us with its care and protection. Psalm 24:1 reads, “The earth is the Lord’s, and everything in it, the world, and all who live in it.” We are but tenants caring for God’s creation. The beautiful sunsets, the green fields of corn, the lightning bugs, the mighty oceans, the glorious songbirds…are all gifts to us from the Lord. Billy Graham said, “When we see the world as a gift from God, we will do our best to take care of it and use it wisely, instead of poisoning or destroying it.” Be grateful for all God’s creation and be good stewards of his gifts.

It’s 6:3O, early evening, and the temperature is 67 degrees with real feel of 60 degrees. It’s almost cold…I must be in the twilight zone! I’ve been perched on the porch swing all day. Hate to say it feels like fall but it’s been perfect weather for porch pondering today. The sun has been hiding under a melted vanilla ice cream and cigar smoke cloud cover all day. I can see swatches of Father Sky’s sky canvas blues if I search for them. I’m going in the house now and raise my bedroom windows to enjoy the cool night air and listen to the insects’ symphonies and the lonely birds’ love songs.

“Life is not always perfect. Like a road, it has many bends, ups and down, but thats its beauty.” — Amit Ray