I have decided to make every Thursday “Thankful Thursday.” It will be a time when I reflect on something I am thankful for. This Thursday I would like to write about how thankful I am to be surrounded by such beauty. Seriously, could the natural world be a more beautiful place? I’m from Minnesota, so we see it all here. I know what a real winter looks like, and I try to find beauty in that (it only last until Christmas and then the beauty is gone in my eyes, which is pessimistic I know). But summer is so incredibly beautiful, so beautiful, I think, that sometimes we take it for granted. It’s like getting used to a beautiful painting in your home. You walk by it enough and you kind of forget its there or how wonderful it is. Think of how many times you never even see the sky – one of the most beautiful backdrops there is. It’s a shame really. I try my hardest to always recognize the beautiful world surrounding me and remind myself to thank God for creating such a beautiful world. As much as I love architecture and houses, sometimes it saddens me how so much beauty is lost when towns and cities are created. Sure, someone can recreate nature, but real, raw nature is beautiful, too. The world is not a perfectly manicured place. I usually prefer imperfection over perfection, anyway. So, thank you God for giving us such a beautiful place to spend each and every day of our lives in and for helping us to recognize it at least every once in a while.

Here are some pictures of flowers in my backyard. Man, do I feel blessed to live at such a beautiful place (at least part of the year). I really do love the country life. Here’s why:

Oh, how I love me some cone flowers.

Seriously, do you see how detailed plants are? It always amazes me how complex a seemingly-simple flower is when you look at it closely. I thought humans were complex…

This picture does the view no justice, but this is what I see when I walk to the edge of my backyard. Miles of rolling hills and farms. I love it. Luckily, green is one of my favorite colors. It’s so cool to see the different lines of field going every which way. I adore the little things in life. The beauty that farmers create without even realizing it. I’m so thankful for nature.

(Gen 1:11-13) ¹¹ Then God said, “Let the land produce vegetation: seed-bearing plants and trees on the land that bear fruit with seed in it, according to their various kinds.” And it was so. ¹² The land produced vegetation: plants bearing seed according to their kinds and trees bearing fruit with seed in it according to their kinds. And God saw that it was good. ¹³ And there was evening, and there was morning—the third day.

Boy, am I glad He did that. :) What are you thankful for?

Tags: beauty, Christ, flowers, God, nature, Thanks