In the morning, Lord, you hear my voice;

    in the morning I lay my requests before you

    and wait expectantly.

-Psalm 5:3

It is morning

My pen hovers over the page

As I consider the faithfulness and goodness of God

I continue my quiet time outside, walking in the cool air

Camera in hand

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I look around me

Taking in the natural world

The birds are singing and chattering high up in the treetops

Too high for my camera lens to reach

But I am enjoying their songs nonetheless

Such pretty melodies and countermelodies

No two mornings the same

The tasks of today are like an insistent knocking

Wanting to be let into the gates of my mind

I breathe and I wait

Knowing the door doesn’t yet need to be opened to them

The morning a sweet gift from the Father

Inviting me to enjoy it

I have been thinking about the glory of small things

The gardenia bush, many of the blooms now dying in the heat of summer

Still fragrant

The way the light filters through the trees

Backlighting the leaves

Showing off the intricate pattern of veins

It reminds me of Kimberly’s lesson for her nature camp last week

On the vascular system of trees

The strength it takes to move water up so high

Nourishing the leaves

The leaves show the glory of the tree

But the roots are the strength of it

Providing life and sustenance

And I wonder how my own roots are doing

Remain in me, as I also remain in you. No branch can bear fruit by itself; it must remain in the vine. Neither can you bear fruit unless you remain in me.

-John 15:4

When the tree is cut down

It is no longer useful for anything but burning

Providing warmth on a cool night

But no longer a living thing

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The plants that Jonathan planted are not yet producing fruit

But the greens are still beautiful

The air fresh and clean

Snickers comes out for her morning run around the yard

Like the grass, her fur is in need of another cut

Her muzzle wet with morning dew

And I think how perfect a dog she is for our family

How cat-like, she will sit for hours at Jonathan’s feet while he works

And yet run around the yard with Nathan like a wild creature

So affectionate

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So thankful for our in-laws who got her for us so many years ago

I remember Nathan’s face

I don’t think I have ever seen so much joy on his face

And Abby’s squealing delight

Only a doodle who does not shed

Was able to get past my allergies

And even then I need to wash my hands whenever I pet her

Like all dogs, Snickers lives in the moment

She does not stress about what others think of her

Or worry about unfinished tasks

She just is

It is morning and I have spent an hour

Being unproductive

Quiet

Contemplative

It is what my soul needs this morning

To breathe

And I regret I rarely made this a priority this past year

The leaves on my tree have withered a bit

And some of the fruit I had hoped to see there is missing

As I suck in nutrients from the rich soil of God’s Word

Clinging to the vine and the promises of God

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Blessed is the one

    who does not walk in step with the wicked

or stand in the way that sinners take

    or sit in the company of mockers,

but whose delight is in the law of the Lord,

    and who meditates on his law day and night.

That person is like a tree planted by streams of water,

    which yields its fruit in season

and whose leaf does not wither—

    whatever they do prospers.

-Psalm 1:1-3

And I am back to considering the faithfulness of God

The goodness of his character

The loveliness of mercy

The steadfast love of the Lord never ceases;

    his mercies never come to an end;

they are new every morning;

    great is your faithfulness.

-Lamentations 3:22-23

And I add my voice to the voice of the birds

Singing the praises of God

Whose mercies never come to an end

They are new this very morning

As I sit in this moment

Realizing

There will never be another exactly like it