Good evening, Dear Friends and Prayer Partners! Because of an early -7:15am- appointment at the VA hosp. for Louis, I thought I would go ahead and write this tonight, and then send it in the morning.
I just couldn't waste the good weather staying indoors yesterday, so we took off and walked, and discovered lots of people at the Park early. The Audubon people and hundred mile walking club, and others, but not so many on the boardwalk. I heard a hawk calling and looked until I found him just past the gator nest in a tall dead tree, He was huge, and just calling because he felt like it... preening his feathers and enjoying his view! God is good!
From Quiet Moments for Teachers:
Galatians 6:9 "Let us not become weary in doing good, for at the proper time we will reap a harvest if we do not give up."
A young teacher reread a note attached to a fresh, green ivy.
"Because of the seeds you planted, we will one day grow into beautiful plants like this one. We appreciate all you've done for us. Thank you for investing time in our lives."
The grateful teacher smiled as a tear trickled down her cheek. Like the one leper who expressed gratitude to Jesus for healing him, the students she had taught remembered to say thanks to their teacher. The ivy plant represented a gift of love.
She watered it for months and each time she looked at the growing plant, she remembered those special teenagers and was encouraged to continue teaching.
But after a year, something happened. The leaves began to turn yellow and drop-all but one. She started to discard the ivy but decided to keep watering and fertilizing it. One day as she walked through the kitchen, she noticed a new shoot on the plant. A few days later, another leaf appeared, and then another. Within a few months, the ivy was well on its way to becoming a healthy plant again.
Henry Drummond says, "Do not think that nothing is happening because you do not see yourself grow, or hear the whir of the machinery. All great things grow noiselessly."
Few joys exceed the blessings of faithfully investing time and love into the lives of others. Never, never give up on those plants!
God does not payweekly, but he pays at the end.
Dutch Proverb
I always give thanks for you, remembering you in my prayers with thanksgiving, joy and love!
Love and hugs,
Amaryllis
