Thursday, May 8, 2008

Time in a Bottle

Good morning, Dear Friends and Prayer Partners! This is the day that the Lord has made and we will rejoice and be glad in it!

As I stepped outside this morning, the only star I could see was Venus, so we still have a lot of haze in the atmosphere, but another sunny warm day is coming up and, although we need rain, God will supply in His time. God is good!

I am not getting over to the Park as early as I would like, but I slather with sun block and try to stay in the shade. All four baby gators were at the shelter yesterday and Mama was under the shelter...first time I have seen her close by. The babies are getting bigger each day, so they must be finding plenty to eat.

On the way in, we saw the peacocks, two had their tails fully fanned out and were showing off, by slowly turning round and round. Such vanity!

On my way out of the boardwalk, as I walked down the bridge, I startled a cottontail, who gave great leaps and ran straight across the road and into the bushes! So fast!

The Mama screech owl was peeking out of her nest, looking very wise. Francia said the baby was peeking out yesterday with only the eyes showing in the hole in the box. They are so cute!

From Quiet Moments with God:

"This is the day which the Lord has made; we will rejoice and be glad in it." Psalm 118:24 NKJV

"Where does the time go?" we ask. Here it is-a new day on the horizon-and we can't remember how it arrived so quickly. Why, last week seems like yesterday, and last year flew by like a video in fast forward.

And worse, it's hard to remember what we spent it on.

"Shouldn't I have more great memories? we wonder. What did I accomplish? Is this all I've done with all that time?"

Singer Jim Croce mused in his hit song "Time in a Bottle" that " there never seems to be enough time to do the things you want to do, once you find them." We search so hard for happiness. But often, we don't understand that happiness is not a goal to be won, but a by-product of a life well spent.

This "Old English Prayer" offers simple instructions for enjoying the day that the Lord has made.

Take time to work, it is the price of success.
Take time to think, it is the source of power.
Take time to play, it is the secret of perpetual youth.
Take time to read, it is the foundation of wisdom.
Take time to be friendly, it is the road to happiness.
Take time to dream, it is hitching your wagon to a star.
Take time to love and be loved, it is the privilege of the gods.
Take time to look around, it is too short a day to be selfish.
Take time to laugh, it is the music of the soul.

True happiness comes from the job of deeds well done, the zest of creating things new.
Antoine de Saint-Exupery

I always give thanks for you, remembering you in my prayers with thanksgiving, joy and love!

Love and hugs,
Amaryllis