What's New This Morning?

Today is Day… I really don’t remember… of Covid19 quarantine. 

Although I have more than enough for which to be grateful, I told my husband Saturday night that I was tired of everything but not sure what the everything is. Does that make sense? Anyway, I’m not tired of my yard. I’ve enjoyed the extra time outside and the quiet. But, if this strange year has done anything, it has reminded me that I’m selfish and take a lot for granted.  It has also magnified the fact that I’m not a big fan of redundancy.  

One of my hobbies is gardening. I enjoy being outside getting my hands dirty. I’d rather be digging, pulling, or planting than sitting inside.  I like to see progress, too. I’m a big fan of Before and After.  If you don’t like redundancy either, take up gardening.  There’s always something new. 

I spent several hours working in my yard Saturday and kept a mental inventory of new spring blooms.  In fact, from March until October, I walk around my yard to see what’s new: spring perennials, summer perennials, perennials going dormant, spring colors, fall colors, growing limbs, broken limbs.  Saturday, I noticed new blooms on my Lady Banks, Carolina Jasmine, Dogwood and Azaleas but not on any of my Spirea shrubs: Saturday at dusk, not one bloom, but I said to my dog Maybelle (I’m not kidding), “I guess in the next few days, I’ll see a few blooms.” 

Sunday morning, I took Maybelle outside, and after a yelling conversation with my neighbor from our driveways, I looked in my backyard.  One of my Spirea shrubs didn’t have a few blooms. It was full. Overnight.  Something was new Sunday morning.    
Fast forward a few hours to our online church service, Concord Baptist, and our music and worship pastor shared one of my favorite verses. 

Because of the Lord’s great love, we are not consumed, for his compassions never fail.
They are new every morning; great is your faithfulness.  Lamentations 3:22-23 NIV

The New Living Translation states, His mercies begin afresh each morning. 

I like New American Standard for verse 24.  The Lord is my portion, says my soul, Therefore I have hope in Him.

Even during times of boredom, uncertainty, and monotony, there is something new.  My cousin Stephanie’s new every morning quarantine memes have kept me laughing.  New every morning Facebook pictures of new babies and precious children have kept me smiling.  My YMCA's new every morning workout along with plenty of weeds to pull have kept my mind busy and body healthy in spite of the new snacks my kids find and bring home. My son, Luke, and his wife, Leianne text and send pictures.  This has kept us connected. 

There are new cases of coronavirus every morning, too, and new questions and bad news. But, there are also recoveries.  Every morning, there are new pictures and videos of people helping, of medical personal, truck drivers, food industry employees, law enforcement and other essential employees working. There are new pictures of parents and teachers communicating.  Along with the impatient making headlines, there are millions being patient. 

God tells us His compassion, His forgiveness - His mercies (plural) are new every morning. 

If I look beyond myself, there are many new ways every morning to help those in need, to show compassion.  In a few more weeks, a month, there will be even more ways to help those who are recovering: physically, spiritually, and emotionally from being sick, working too much, not working enough, or being at home and lonely. 

I hope you have Hope.  If you’re quarantined, I hope you experience new every morning memes, videos, phone calls, flowers, and pictures.  If you’re still working and sacrificing, Thank You, and I hope you have support and appreciation every morning from customers, patients, family, or co-workers. 

Enjoy the beautiful spring.  See new blooms every morning, along with the new pollen after you washed yesterday’s off the porch already.



More importantly, enjoy God’s mercies and share His compassion,

Katy








My youngest son, James, brought his cactus, Beatrice, home from Anderson University. We noticed one morning that is had new growth. Yes, we got excited about that.