For a February day in Minnesota, today was warm, sunny, and beautiful. I made it a special point to go out and enjoy it. I walked to the nearby recreation center and then backtracked to the post office to pick up my mail. Winter is not over yet but amid the cold, bitter days God will bless us with some warm days that remind me of spring. I even glance around hoping to see green grass growing and lo, I did see a hint of green embedded in the grayish brown grass blades. And when God sends such a sign of hope through the bright warm sun and that tiny hint of new grass, I try to make it  a point to relish those special moments as a way of showing thankfulness to God for all he has done.  Every day and in many special ways, God shows me his love and his gentleness. Today I am rejoicing in that and in the hope that God’s gentle love also reaches others through me in what I say and do.  It is my hope today that you also are touched by God’s gentle love and can rejoice in that.

Philippians 4:4-5 (Holy Bible New International Version): 

“Rejoice in the Lord always. I’ll say it again: Rejoice! Let your gentleness be evident to all. The Lord is near.”