Thankful Thursday and Friday Foto Friends

This morning's sunrise got me singing:

"When Morning Gilds the Skies, 

my heart awaking cries...

May Jesus Christ be praised!

Alike at work and prayer 

To Jesus I repair:

May Jesus Christ be praised!

2

To Thee, my God above,

I cry with glowing love,

May Jesus Christ be praised!

The fairest graces spring

In hearts that ever sing,

May Jesus Christ be praised!

3 Does sadness fill my mind?

A solace here I find,

May Jesus Christ be praised!

Or fades my earthly bliss?

My comfort still is this,

May Jesus Christ be praised!

4 When evil thoughts molest,

With this I shield my breast,

May Jesus Christ be praised!

The powers of darkness fear,

When this sweet chant they hear,

May Jesus Christ be praised!

5When sleep her balm denies,

My silent spirit sighs,

May Jesus Christ be praised!

The night becomes as day,

When from the heart we say,

May Jesus Christ be praised!

6 Be this, while life is mine,

My canticle divine,

May Jesus Christ be praised!

Be this th’ eternal song

Through all the ages long,

May Jesus Christ be praised!

I hope you enjoyed the pictures from today, starting with the sunrise, and then progressing through the activities along Still Waters Pond from this morning.  The significance of the geese and the Sand Hill Crane family was that the one goose was getting much too close to the family as they made their way across the water and the island to our side of the pond. The father crane had already warned the goose sternly about getting too close to them as they escorted the young colts, "Pat" and "Val" across the mud flat and around the steep island and then across the little shallow lagoon to the shore. Whether the goose was just curious or else trying to assert his authority as the "bull goose around here", he was clearly not in the Crane family's good graces.  

But once the family was safely on shore, the three geese decided to leave the area and spent the day across the road  nibbling on some grasses  on a newly built septic drain field. Must be something tasty there because they tend to go there every day and spend most of the day doing this, until time to fly back to the big lake for the night.  I'm sure they'll be back in the morning again...like clockwork.

I had a bit of a scare today, and I must say that I am very thankful for how it ended up.

I had been to my Physical Therapy appointment, and when I drove back in the driveway at home the Crane family was walking in the back yard near where I was headed to park the car.  As soon as I saw them I stopped the car and waited for them to cross back over to the pond area before I got out of the car because I didn't want to startle them too much.  But when I did get out of the door and stood up, I noticed that there was only one baby with the parents. Of course I became alarmed and concerned about where the other baby was, and I could tell the mother was also worried and wanted to go back in the direction from where they had just come, but she wouldn't go because I was in the way. I thought I could hear the sound of a young bird calling, but wasn't sure if it was the Colt or some other bird. So I hurried into the house so they could go look for the baby.  I was feeling rather frantic myself that something could have happened to the baby.  I kept watching from inside the house and literally praying that the baby was okay.   Well, you can imagine my great relief when a few minutes later I saw the whole family, with both colts following them, come walking back up into our back yard in plain view of us as if to say, "See? We found our child who was lost, and we wanted you to know everything was okay!"  You can bet I gave a big sigh of relief and thanksgiving to God for finding this little lost Colt.   

That reminds me of the story in the Bible where Jesus was telling the disciples about the parable of the Lost Sheep, found in Matthew 18:10-14.  At first He is talking about a little child in verses 1-10, but then He tells us how much our Heavenly Father cares about each one of us and does not want any of us to perish...

"10 “Take heed that you do not despise one of these little ones, for I say to you that in heaven their angels always see the face of My Father who is in heaven. 11 For the Son of Man has come to save that which was lost.

12 “What do you think? If a man has a hundred sheep, and one of them goes astray, does he not leave the ninety-nine and go to the mountains to seek the one that is straying? 13 And if he should find it, assuredly, I say to you, he rejoices more over that sheep than over the ninety-nine that did not go astray. 14 Even so it is not the will of your Father who is in heaven that one of these little ones should perish."

Speaking of Physical Therapy...it seems to be going well. I have my ups and downs, and was thankful today for some time on the massage table having some kinks worked out of my neck and shoulder muscles.  It was much needed.

These two signs are on the walls in the therapy center:

I thought this was apropos to my situation, and maybe to yours as well. We have to keep moving forward in life or we will become stagnant and stiff and sore...both physically and mentally and emotionally.  Staying attentive to God's Word, listening to His voice speaking to us in nature and through the people He brings into our lives for our good helps us to maintain our balance. During this Lenten season leading us up to the Passion of the Cross and the Joy of the Resurrection, may we stay focused on the things that really matter most and not stray off the path.

And most of all: 

Enjoy the Ride!

Have a blessed and beautiful rest of your week.