“Oh What A Beautiful Morning …”

The Swiss Alps are incredibly beautiful. I still remember watching the movie “Heidi” starring Shirley Temple and being mesmerized by the beauty. It’s a great story… I’d like to watch it again.

Sunday was a beautiful fall day… the temperature was in the high 60’s, the trees were still blazing with colors, the sky was blue and clear…. it was great. Sitting outside with a cool breeze after a delicious brunch with our youngest daughter  who is due to have her first baby in about a month… it was delightful. Oh and by the way, we had pancakes with pure Maple Syrup recently brought back from their trip to Vermont … and of course delicious eggs, bacon, and piping hot coffee. It was really good. Her husband Chris makes some “pretty mean eggs”. After a walk and rest, we were off to mass where another daughter was having her baby baptized along with her son making his first communion. It was great…music, homily, grandkids doing the readings. We then went to a celebration with more delicious food. ( of course with a reduced number due to Covid restrictions) Wow, what a day. I was so grateful for the many blessings. 

Part of what hit me was that too often I experience a great day and many blessings, but fail to recognize them. I can be numb to the blessings…or simply take them for granted. 

Gee, I really don’t want to do that. God is so good to me…I don’t want to fail to thank him. Scripture reminds us that “the steadfast love of the LORD never ceases, his mercies never come to an end; they are new every morning; great is thy faithfulness.” (Lam. 3:22-23) Lord, open my eyes to your blessings. 

This morning we were off to Mass and our grandson who’s in 2^nd grade,  was waiting for the van to take him to school. He had gotten there early and was by himself. He looked sharp in his uniform and bookbag on his back and a big smile…he was ready for school, ready for a new day…awaiting the new mercies. I need to be more like him…ready for the day with a big smile. 

The scripture today was filled with beautiful descriptions of how great it is to be with the Lord, in his house, experiencing his wonders. Listen to these from Psalm 84:

• “How lovely is your dwelling place, Lord, God of hosts”
• “My soul is longing and yearning for the courts of the Lord”
• “ My heart and my soul ring out their joy to God, the living God.”
• “They are happy who dwell in your house for ever singing your praise…
• “They are happy, whose strength is in you, in whose hearts are the roads to Zion”.
• “One day within your courts is better than a thousand elsewhere.”

Isaiah reminds us “come let us climb the Lord’s mountain, to the house of the God of Jacob… that he may instruct us in his ways and we may walk in his paths.” (Is. 2:2-3)

Let’s ask the Lord to make us aware of the many, many blessing we receive each day….and to then thank him for his kindness in providing them to us. Some days may be easier to find the blessings than other days, but every day has many blessings. Let’s keep our eyes open and our hearts ready to rejoice.