Fred Rogers, an author, producer, host and Presbyterian minister, created a preschool television show viewed by so many.  My boys, as toddlers, LOVED watching Mr. Rogers and his neighborhood of characters.  The song he sang, “It’s a Beautiful Day in the Neighborhood,” popped into my mind this morning on my walk.

After some cold mornings, today was a beautiful day and my walk kind of had a skip to it….ok, I wasn’t skipping but I was clipping along and humming that song in my head. After only a few brief minutes NATURE was presenting itself to me.  Squirrels were foraging for food and scampering across my path, the birds were loudly chirping and flitting from tree to tree, the sun was so warm and inviting and the breeze gentle and constant. Great outing and who presented this array of nature to me? God, of course.  Our Creator’s gift! I thanked Him for giving me a wonderful day to walk with much to appreciate.  Something else I noticed was that when other walkers passed by, they were smiling. WOW!  That was so pleasant to see, there wasn’t a grump-o in the bunch!

I did not win the lotto.  Publisher’s Clearing House did not bring a check to my door.  A plane was not pulling a banner across the sky that said, “Hello, Jill,” yet, I was smiling from my heart and lips.  God had just surrounded me with energy to finish my miles, scenery to delight me, smiles to warm my spirit and His assorted animal creatures to entertain me.  It truly was a “beautiful day in the neighborhood.”

Wondering why I am still so surprised at God’s gifts to me.  I am His and He loves me unconditionally and I believe that truism is better than a winning lotto ticket.  Praise be to God!

Jill