That miniature heart still sits on a shelf in my room. When I look at it, I think of the love Peggy had for Jesus and for others. I think of how my initials and Jesus' are carved in eternity. Carving initials in a tree scars the outer bark, but the tree survives, and the initials are there for the life of the tree.

Churches are willing to do almost anything to increase foot traffic to their front church doors: catchy slogans, fish fries, family nights, concerts, and ice cream socials. It’s just possible that two words, spoken humbly and sincerely, will generate more goodwill than all those strategies combined:

Perhaps it’s time to inspect our equipment so we're prepared. Are we reading the Bible, spending time in prayer, listening to Him as well as talking, and opening ourselves to the power of the Holy Spirit each and every day?

As soon as I saw that flock of blackbirds in my backyard, I thought of the song/nursery rhyme “Sing a Song of Sixpence.”  The truth of the matter is this song is truly nonsensical and a little gory. The point is; however, I associated this visual happening with a song I  had learned as a child.

Yes, it was real —a beautiful gift given to me about three years earlier by friends. Each year, it had bloomed magnificently. In between the flowering times, I placed it outside by the deck. There, in its ‘hibernation phase’, it could rest and prepare to bloom again.

The river water did not encounter a deterrent and say, “Oh no! I am stuck here. What am I going to do?” One way or another, over or around, it kept persevering. There is always a solution, always a way….over or around, with God.

When we moved it from my folks' home to ours, a big chunk of molding was missing from the front, and the hardware needed replacing, too. I was reluctant to give the job of restoration to just anyone. Finally, we found someone whom we had confidence in to refinish it.

For sure, too much thinking and planning can absolutely get me feeling overwhelmed. One day at a time is the ticket. The bible says not to worry about the future, because each day has enough “troubles” of its own (Matthew 6:34). So true.

Major and Minor. By late morning, I had finally gotten outdoors. Armed with a pair of trusty clippers, I was ready to tackle the overgrown bushes in the backyard. I was getting into it and having fun chopping and trimming.

The Live Oak trees in the Savannah, Georgia area are lovely. Spanish Moss drapes gracefully from almost every limb, adding a special touch of beauty. Occasionally, the wind will blow these clumps of moss out of the tree onto the ground.