"Look at the birds of the air … See how the lilies of the field grow." Matthew 6:26, 28

Once on a trail we met some hikers whose main purpose seemed to be how quickly they could walk those miles. We wondered how much they actually saw as they rushed along. Oh, no one could miss the big views. But what about the little beauties God created – the wildflowers, the birds, the varieties of mushrooms?

Some people seem to be that way on the trail of life. They rush from one experience to another, demanding that everything be exciting.

But what about the little things of life? And what about the fact that life is not always exciting? What about those times in life when we agonize with pain or heartache?

That’s when we need to appreciate the little beauties God gives us – the smile of a stranger, the listening ear of a friend, quiet conversation with a loved one, a delicate flower, a gentle rain, a glorious sunset.

Exciting experiences can also be gifts from God, but those are usually few and far between. But the little things are always here to encourage us if we only take time to see them. Most of all, Jesus is with us always, forgiving, comforting, guiding as our beautiful Savior.

PRAYER: Thank You, Lord, for the little beauties You have placed along my trail of life. Amen.

(Devotions from “The Abundant Life” copyright 1998, CPH. All Rights Reserved. No part of this publication may be printed, reproduced, stored in a retrieval system, or transmitted, in any form or by any means, electronic, mechanical, photocopying, recording or otherwise, without prior written permission of Concordia Publishing House. Permission is granted for one-time e-mailing of this link to a friend. For information on other devotional material, please contact CPH at 800-325-3040 or visit CPH at www.cph.org.)

Today's Bible Readings: 2 Samuel 15    Psalms 3    Psalms 69    John 4:27-54

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