Friday, August 2, 2024

Dear God,

Amazing what a little handful of dried leaves can make!  The last few days I have been feeling a little down by recent events.  I have had trouble shaking off disappointment, hurt and anger.  It has been especially difficult sleeping.  But today when I walked into the kitchen, my eyes fell onto the little pile of withered, brown leaves on the antique highchair.  Just before leaving our family reunion here last Saturday, four-year-old Emmy picked up the leaves next to my porch and handed them to me as a gift.  I hugged and kissed that sweet, smiling girl and watched as she walked away singing and got into her car with her mom and brother.  I placed them on the highchair because I just couldn't bear to put them in the trash.

Simple dead leaves can reveal your hand, Most Holy and Loving God.  In such gifts you remind us of your constant living presence always reaching out, wanting to speak kindness, compassion and love.  Through those leaves, you have whispered, "I am with you.  Be of good cheer.  I am with you."  And for the moment, the minute or the day, I find hope, peace and joy.

Precious God,

your tender care

is like

none other.

You touch us,

inspire and

help us

every day.

Thank you

for thinking

of me.

Love, Andrea