Topic of the Day: April

Today is April 1st. It's always been a special day in my family. It's my youngest sister's birthday. Sadly we lost her to lupus many years ago, but the day of her birth never arrives that I don't think of her. Mom always said that Leslie played a practical joke on her by arriving three weeks early and on April Fools Day.

As youngsters we always had fun trying to fool one another. We'd do our best to be creative, but we had a running joke every year that had to do with our neighbors' cows and a poorly built fence. Occasionally the cows would get out and into our garden. On the morning of April 1st we'd act distraught and run to tell our father that the cows were in the garden again. He'd grab a pitchfork and run to head them off. We tricked him the first couple of years and then he caught on, but he still played along.

For me April 1st is a day that symbolizes the beginning of spring. I envision sunshine, daffodils, singing birds and trees filled with blossoms. And on this April 1st, God blessed me with all of that plus boisterous frogs and grazing deer, some with rounded tummies. Soon we'll have spotted, wobbly legged fawns standing alongside their mothers. I love spring!

April is also a time when I think of Christ--His death and resurrection. Easter usually falls sometime during the month of April. Like spring, Christ offers hope and promises of better days.

When April arrives life seems rich with hope and it speaks of warm summer days to come. A date can't promise anything, but there's something about sunshine and the sweet smell of cut grass that helps us leave behind the frigid winter. Like the seasons we have our bitter times, and then the Son comes out and brings brighter days with Him.

I'm making plans for a garden this year and I can't wait to get my fingers in the dirt. I love to be part of the miracle of new life.

How do you feel about this day? Did you prank someone? Do some gardening? Or are you making plans for the upcoming summer? No matter what, I pray you've had a special April 1st and that you even managed to pull a prank or two on someone you know.


Grace and peace to you from God.

Bonnie

TOPIC OF THE DAY: A Hope and a Future

The clock just ticked past 12:00 PM and so it is technically the day after my birth--February 18th. I know that fifty-nine years ago on February 18, my mother saw me for the first time and cradled me in her arms while my father looked on. They fell in love and my life began.

But I was already known. God knew me. Scripture says, "For you created my inmost being; you knit me together in my mother's womb. I praise you because I am fearfully and wonderfully made; your works are wonderful. My frame was not hidden from you when I was made in the secret place. When I was woven together in the depths of the earth, your eyes saw my unformed body. All the days ordained for me were written in your book before one of them came to be."

God's words leave me breathless--I mattered to Him then and I matter to Him now. The Father's hands formed me. He knew all there is to know about me. And still, He loved me. I can't get my mind around that. I don't see what He sees. Like many of you, I don't value His creation as I should. I spend too little time being grateful for the gift of life. Every breath is precious, every moment provides opportunity. Life is rich and will be more so if we turn our eyes to Him and ask with an open heart, "What now, Lord? Tell me and I will do it. Praise you, Lord."

Jeremiah 29:11 says, "For I know the plans I have for you, says the Lord. They are plans for good and not for disaster, to give you a future and a hope." What a promise! We can count on Him to uphold His promises.

I had fun at my birthday celebration today. Family gathered for a special meal, we prayed and laughed, played silly games and held onto one another. It was good. Yet, I long for more--time to speak of the gift of each other, more time to pray and to build one another up. As the day comes to a close I consider who I am, who God means for me to be and how great is His love. How many more birthdays do I have? I can't answer that question, but I pray that I'll not waste the time given to me and to be grateful for the days already received. May I greet each morning with a heart of thanksgiving.

Let us breathe in the fragrance of God's creation, to put our arms around a loved one, or one who needs to be loved. Shall we count every day as a blessing. We are here on purpose. Treasure the gift.

Grace and peace to you from God.

Bonnie