We had two pairs of cardinals show up at our feeder this week. They have been gone all winter and to show up this week in these snow-covered near-zero conditions makes us wonder that their internal clocks were off by a couple of weeks this year. But what a joy and wonder to see that bright red spot amongst the mass of regular birds at the feeder. You can also spot them in the trees west of the house just like God hung a ruby red Christmas ornament for us to see. Yep, it’s the little things in life. . . .

For Suzanne in the past couple of weeks, the little things are becoming more noticeable. She has started to eat some solid foods, little bits at first, but has graduated to an omelet for lunch yesterday. Her pain has completely subsided to where she is med free and her earache that started this journey has vanished. Another for her, even this little thing, one I can’t relate to, today she wore a bra for the first time since her chemo port was placed last August.

Gratitude for what goes on, in and around us daily is what that saying is all about. Appreciation for the tiny bits of joy that enter our hearts every day that we often forget to stop, wonder at and thank God for.

There are all those things we take for granted that our forefathers paved the way for; water comes out of the faucet and I didn’t have to pump it, the car moves forward and I didn’t have to feed it, the lights come on with you flip a switch and you didn’t have to use a match. Boy, I’m grateful for those little things every day.

Then there are the things that God puts right before our eyes every day that we often skip over; the shape of a snowdrift, the warmth of the sun, the companionship of a pet, the sound of water moving. These too are some of life’s little things, wonders put in front of us to ponder just how we fit into this grand plan around us.

So the next time a hummingbird stops at the flower your looking at, a snowflake falls on your eyelash, someone gives you a kiss on the cheek, or you just get to eat oatmeal at breakfast for the first time in months, be thankful for the little things in your life.

Give thanks in all circumstances; for this is the will of God in Christ Jesus for you.
1 Thessalonians 5:18