God’s Bench

I’ve been fortunate enough to find a cozy spot under a tree in my backyard where I added a few stepping stones and a comfy bench – a perfect spot just to “sit a spell”.  Some mornings I take a bag of birdseed and peanuts with me when I head off the “the bench.”

I plop down, take in a deep breath of the crisp morning air and sprinkle a handful of the birdseed and peanuts around me. Sitting quietly, I watch the bluejays, sparrows and cardinals swoop down to pluck them up. Squirrels and chipmunks tussle over the peanuts (for their winter surplus). I marvel at trees just beginning to shed their fall leaves and God’s creatures scurrying around me. I find myself totally relaxed and smiling. Nature is God’s free entertainment – it just doesn’t get any better!

Almost every day, even in bad weather, this bench serves as a haven – a place to clear my head, gather my thoughts and more importantly, have a one-on-one chat with God.

Daily prayers to start your day and end your day will give you an uplifting feeling. When things are going well, it’s important to be thankful. When things are rough or challenging, that one-on-one chat with God can help you find comfort and hope.

Find a special spot in your home or yard – a quiet area that you have all to yourself. Make it your “go to” spot for solace, as well as positive vibes — a special spot where you can also have quiet, quality time with God.

Whether you find a spot inside or outside, make it special by adding a few personal touches – perhaps a planter, a figurine, birdbath or small garden statue. You’ll note in the photo there’s a sundial on one side of the bench and a large coffee cup housing a winter pansy on the other side of the bench. There’s an “occupied” birdhouse behind the bench, home to a family of sparrows.  These are the things that make me smile every time I sit down on the bench.

In today’s challenging and often stressful times, making a special “spot” reserved just for you and Him might be just what you need. Even in a nearby park, you might be able to find your own “perfect spot.”

And when you “find” or “make” your perfect spot, it’s even better if you bring along a cup of soothing tea, coffee, coco or whatever makes you happy! If you’ve read my other posts, you know I really enjoy my morning “coffee with God.” That calm and peaceful place you have all to yourself is sure to get your day off to a good start. It’s also a perfect spot to go to at the end of the day – giving you a place to reflect upon the day you’ve already had and what’s in store for tomorrow.

Be thankful for each and every day. Not every one will get another day. The fact that you are waking up, once again, to a new dawn is something to be monumentally thankful for.