Hello, God. It's me, Mara.

You know, Lord, while we lounge in or around the front porch or on the deck in our favorite chairs, the gentle breeze stirs the air and the summer sun warms the body. Several folks had gathered together, they mentioned how it was too warm out back when the July temps were really warming things up, one chap reached for his glass to sip some iced tea. Then he heard sounds in the neighborhood, that blended into calming "white noise" that he liked to hear, as did the several friends who were gathered with them. Then he/they could smell a barbecue nearby.

Oh yeah - it's grilling season! Then his wife came out, said she has the coleslaw ready that the neighbors love, so were they ready to go? Oh! So up he and the other two guys jumped. The adults and kids rounded the corner just in time to thank the neighbor guy, who quickly said a pray of thanksgiving, encouraging(1) each one of them to continue to be who they were, doing what they did! They each grabbed a paper plate, filling their plates with goodies.

T. J. paused a moment, knowing that his mom would have loved to been here, especially hearing their near neighbor guys special encouraging prayer for each of them. Besides, he remembered how his momma loved corn on the cob, grilled hamburgers, mushrooms and potato salad! Oh - don't forget the tomatoes and the watermelon, he could almost hear her say. Yum! There was much more there, but this, to T. J., was the greatest.

He thanked his neighbor, said, "This warm weather sure signaled the start of grilling season - and thanks for encouragement! I think we'll grill next week." They laughed.

Love, Mara

(1) 1 Thessalonians 5:11 (NIV0 "Encourage one another and build each other up, just as in fact you are doing."