Listening? - What's Getting Your Attention?

 

 



 

 

Behold the fowls of the air, they sow not, neither do they reap, nor gather into barns, yet your heavenly father feedeth them. Are ye not much better than they?

Matthew  6:26

It’s blackberry season here on God’s Two Acres. The grandkids helped me pick the first day, but today I had to pick alone. I love picking with the kids. I dreaded picking this morning. There was no one to make the work go faster. No giggles, no complaining, nothing, I thought as I walked to the overgrown edge of a field. Then I saw all the black among the red. The big, black, juicy berries speckled among the ripening red berries and green leaves. I was suddenly ready to dig in. First one goes in the mouth.

As I settled in to picking, I began noticing all the noise around me. Not traffic and car horns, or sirens and loud voices, or the ping and swish and ring of technology. No, this noise was peaceful, soothing, comforting. Crickets made a constant chirp. Praying mantis whirred among the grasses in search of prey. Red birds told me to cheer-up, cheer-up. A turkey hen chucked to her chicks. Wrens fussed from the trees.

When I paid attention, the quiet of the country was really full of noise, but not a distracting noise. It was in the midst of all this noise that I could truly listen to the voice of God, the voice of my heavenly Father. He reminded me of the first garden, full of the sounds of birds and animals, insects and trickling streams. He reminded me of the food, free for the picking. Ouch! A blackberry thorn just scraped my arm. The blood oozed to the top and made a puddle. Yes, He reminded me of sin that had entered that peaceful perfect garden and the blood that was necessary to recover us from sin. There along the edge of the road lay a thrush probably struck by a car. A sacrifice to man’s life in the fast lane. Again, I thought of the first animal slain because of man’s sin.

My thoughts drifted to our heavenly Father who created a perfect world for us. He supplies all our needs. He cares about the thrush who falls to the ground, the wrens who fuss, the crickets who chirp for their mate, the hens who care for their chicks. He cares for us even more. He proved it by the sacrifice of His only Son.

Take a little time this week away from the noise of the world and enjoy the sounds of God’s creation. Taste and see that the Lord is good. Cast all your care upon Him because he cares for you. Take a little time to bless the Lord for all His goodness.

May you be blessed as well.

Gail

Hey Kids!

If you picked just a handful of ripe berries, here’s an idea.

Berry Parfait

I carton of plain yogurt

I/2 tsp vanilla

A handful of ripe berries (a mix of black and red makes an even prettier parfait)

1 Tbsp of granola

Mix the vanilla with the yogurt. Then place a heaping Tbsp in the bottom of a clear cup.

Add a Tbsp of berries

Top with more yogurt, then more berries.

Put on the last bit of yogurt.

Sprinkle the granola on top.

Now dig in!!!

 

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