Hello, God. It's me, Mara.

You know, Lord, it's interesting to take advantage of the beautiful spring weather. A friend, a few hours south of here, wrote that she'd grabbed her favorite glass of Cranberry Iced tea, deciding to stretch out in their back yard, pretending to relax. She mentioned that she had a lounge chair - so spreadeagled there, soaking in the air, soft and sweet having her eyes closed.  She mentioned that she laid there for several minutes, surround by the fresh scents of spring with the sunshine caressing her face. Her ears were busy listening to the everyday sounds of her neighborhood: children playing, dogs announcing the mail carrier's arrival, and a bee buzzing by, en route to a flower, as it hummed in the background.

When she opened her eyes, she saw feathery clouds casting lines across the sky, she said she just felt blessed to have witnessed the simple perfection in the making and felt so refreshed and now eager to take on the rest of the afternoon.

She also mentioned that she knew that every day is a gift, she felt blessed to witness the simple perfection in the making, like a masterpiece[1] available to any who might notice things, just like she had.

And, like all believers, she said she's a part of this holy masterpiece, made NEW in Jesus. She looked at the hours ahead, scrutinizing them with an artist's eye. She wondered what she could add to make her time worthy of the day and to honor Jesus.  If she were the illustrator, where could she add her own brushstrokes to further define this piece of art – known as our world?

She reentered her house with eyes, ears and heart open to the beautiful possibilities, and like the bee, she was ready for the good that He has planned for each one of us, thanking Jesus for this beautiful gift!

Love, Mara

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[1] Ephesians 2:10 (NLT): "For we are God's masterpiece. He has created us anew in Christ Jesus, so we can do the good things He planned of us long ago."