King George

Wednesday, Don and I took a trek to Springfield, Missouri, the largest city in our area, and made the requisite stops: Walmart, Sam's Club, and Bass Pro Shop.  At Bass Pro, between the Starbucks counter and the fishing department, was a large alligator in his own, specially designed enclosure, complete with a pond with waterfalls and a platform for "sunning".  I generally feel somewhat sorry for wild animals in captivity, but an employee there related that he was moved to Bass Pro from a much smaller enclosure.  They call him King George, and he did look regally happy, sprawled out on the platform, snoozing with a smile on his face. Then he woke up, and in all his reptile majesty, he winked at me!

Crocus

The first delicate crocus appeared in the yard yesterday.  Barely 1/2 inch out of the ground, they are small blossoms with a big promise.  Spring is coming!

Cody's Prayer

Years ago, at the end of the sermon in our small country church, the pastor called on one of the youngest in our group to pray. Cody was only 4 at the time, and he walked to the front, his face serious, and bowed his head.  "Dear God," he prayed, "thank You that we can come to church and learn about You and Your only forgotten Son, Jesus."

I smiled to myself, thinking that he had misunderstood the familiar verse, John 3:16.  Cody, however, knew exactly what he meant to say. He continued, "and I pray for all those people that have forgotten You, that we can do something to help them come to Jesus."

Time has erased from my mind any remnant of that day's sermon, but it will be a long time before I forget the sermon in the prayer of one small boy.

For God so loved the world, 

that He gave His only begotten Son, 

that whosoever believeth in Him should not perish, 

but have everlasting life.   

John 3:16 

Photo from Bigstock

My Best Friend

Sunday morning, in the early quiet, we walked in the hollow.  My husband and best friend, Don, pauses here with our best dog friend, Barley.