A shadow rests upon the fields
As earlier Suns are setting;
The corn has reached the tasseled age,
Its silken tresses netting.
–Stephen H. Thayer (1839–1919)

Happily we bask in this warm September sun, which illuminates all creatures great and small. Just stop by my yard and let my squirrels and finches show you how to “bask”. Enjoy the last bit of summer and welcome to the September newsletter.

MAKE A JOYFUL NOISE

Make a joyful noise unto the Lord, all ye lands. Serve the Lord with gladness: come before his presence with singing.
Psalms 100:1-2

I’ve mentioned the joy my yard gives me many times. Every animal indigenous to this area frequents it. We have more bird species than I realized, squirrels, chipmunks, ducks, skunks, rabbits and many more. We get deer, fox and coyote at times as well.

I feed them and provide water and they give me much more than I bargained for. They have lost their fear of me over time and will come right up to me. Ducks bring their young to imprint the yard and “that old man that feeds us” so they remember it when they return in the next spring. I’ve had a robin land on my shoulder, butterflies land on me and squirrels let me hand feed them. The songs of the birds alone are more thanks than I deserve.

I keep predators away and they know it. One time a squirrel ran up to me and stood between my feet. Just then, a cat came around the corner. The squirrel didn’t move or make any noise but the cat turned and ran so fast I thought he would have suffered whiplash. Then the squirrel looked up at me and ran to the garage door because he knew I keep food in there. He was so confident that the danger had passed that he didn’t even look for the cat.

There is a certain feeling I get that melts my heart when another species trusts me, a big old man. After all, all mankind in general are predators by nature. They are takers and not known for giving back. Having the “gang” trust me is profound.

There have been many times when I sit at our picnic bench or on the back steps and pray. Occasionally I will look up after praying and one of my critters will be sitting beside me. I do my best praying out there. It’s quiet and peaceful and it makes me stop to praise the Lord for all of the gifts He gives us all.

All too often when we pray, we forget to thank Him for the little things in life. We go into a prayer with a purpose such as praying for health, good fortune or for family or friends going through hard times. As we speak, we go right to the heart of the prayer and get tongue tied thinking about whether or not we’ve covered everything.

Sometimes, singing His praise is all He needs to hear. He knows you and everything in your life. Praise the Lord with outstretched arms, let Him know you are doing your best and give your life to Him. He hears all prayers but unlike the birds, we forget to sing songs of praise in troubled times.

A merry heart maketh a cheerful countenance: but by sorrow of the heart the spirit is broken.
Proverbs 15:13

I’ve had more troubled times than I care to think about. Just the cancer and the two strokes, by themselves, should have broken my spirit, but I do my best to keep going on and prayers get answered. I have a wife who loves me, a humble home with food on the table. Life is good; Praise the Lord!

There will be darker days; winter will happen, the animals will hibernate and migrate and the cold will aggravate my arthritis. I will do what I can to keep warm and stay healthy. But next spring, I’ll hear my friends in the yard once more and warm my heart and soul. My only prayer in the mean time is that my meager praises of the Lord warms His heart.

I will praise the Lord according to his righteousness: and will sing praise to the name of the Lord most high.
Psalms 7:17

Sing and rejoice, O daughter of Zion: for, lo, I come, and I will dwell in the midst of thee, saith the Lord.
Zechariah 2:10