Christmas Day: Something Beautiful, Something Good from Joy

Pink Turks Cap, December 2025

 

                    May joy be born in you.

                    May joy take root in you.

                    May joy be scattered along your path.

                    May joy be the light in your eyes.

                    May joy become a dear friend. 

                    May joy be the gift you bring.

Fourth Monday of Advent: Something Beautiful, Something Good from the Duck Pond

Lake Tomahawk, Fall 2025
Black Mountain, North Carolina

 

Yesterday was the winter solstice. People I love walked a labyrinth or spiral path to mark the day. A sign of our inward and outward journey. 

On a visit to North Carolina in the fall, I remember watching this duck at sunset and the beautiful ripples that encircled him on the water. His own spiral path. As he glided across the lake, he stirred the sunset colors all around. As above, so below. 

Bless us as we follow the path that is ours.

Bless us as we stir all the colors of life.

Bless us as we create ripples that go where they will.

Bless the Lord, who encircles us in love. 

Second Saturday of Advent: Something Beautiful, Something Good from the Good Shepherd

Artwork by Nancy Thomas

                   

                    May the blessings of these Advent days be yours.

                    May you learn to watch and wait with the Good Shepherd. 
                    May you learn to see yourself and others with steady love. 

                    May companions fill your world with warmth and delight.

                    May you know the nearness of angels.

                    May you hear the song of the redbirds. 

 

First Monday of Advent: Something Beautiful, Something Good from a Neighborhood Hawk

Neighborhood Hawk, November 2025

 

May you know the blessing of an unhurried walk on a cloudy afternoon.

May you know the blessing of meeting someone face to face, eye to eye and unafraid.

May you know the blessing of perfect stillness that comes before perfect flight.

May you know the blessing of wonder in your own neighborhood.

May you know the blessing of watching and waiting together.

Christmas Day 2024

Gingerbread House Ornament, December 2024

 

Wishing you a place

where your heart is light and free

at home in great love

Advent, Day 18: Connections

Web in the morning light, December 2024

 

Bless the shining strands

almost invisible, yet

they connect us all

Advent, Day 14: One leaf, five blessings

Yellow leaf, December 2024

                  

  

                    May sunshine find you on a gray afternoon.

                    May you show up completely as yourself.

                    May you keep holding on - until it's time to let go.

                    May you be renewed and rain washed.

                    May you know that you are a source of delight.

                    

                

            

Advent, Day 10: Wonder

"Wonder", December 2024

 

May every corner of your heart be filled with wonder. 

Advent, Day 3: A Blessing

 

Hibiscus on the back porch, December 2024

May you discover

the blazing beauty at the 

center of your heart

A Blessing

Comal River, September 2024
Gruene, Texas

            May you find joy in the blue sky.

            May you delight in the song of the river.

            May you breathe peace in the shelter of reaching trees.

            May you borrow the strength of enduring stones. 

            May you lift your face to feel the breeze coming off the water.

            May your heart know the spirit of refreshment.

Blessings

Sunrise at Lakeview, August 2024
Lakeview Methodist Conference Center

 

                                        Blessings of the misty morning.

                                        Blessings of the deep evergreen.

                                        Blessings of the brushstroke sky.

                                        Blessings of the waiting pond.

                                        Blessings of the becoming heart.

                    

                    

            

A small bouquet of blessings

Cone Flowers, July 2024

                    

                    May you pause and admire beauty wherever it appears.

                    May you see what comes with warming sun and quenching rain.

                    May you be surrounded by vibrant and true companions.

                    May your heart burst with love given and received.     

                    May you discover the loveliness of your own backyard.

Blessing

Hibiscus, July 2024

May every corner of your heart be filled with the brightness of love.

Love

 

Monarch on Fennel, June 2024

May every corner of your heart be filled with God's radiant love.

* A beautiful monarch emerged from her chrysalis just minutes before this photo. She is about to take her first flight around the backyard and over the fence. She was the last of 10 caterpillars we brought inside to foster through their transformation. I never tire of seeing new life right before my eyes.

Blessing

Dawn Dances by Ann McCarty

 

May you be swept up

in the festive music of

your authentic life

Peace

Morning Light, December 2022

                    May peace fill every corner of your heart.

                    May peace fill every corner of my heart.

                    May peace fill every corner of the world. 

Blessing

Monarch Butterfly Chrysalis, September 2022

 

Your sunset brilliance

grows more vibrant day by day,

bless your unfolding

Beauty

Neighborhood Peacock, July 2022

 

May beauty fill every corner of my heart.

May beauty fill every corner of your heart.

May beauty fill every corner of __________'s heart.

Encircle us

White Dinner Plate Hibiscus, May 2022

In the circle of

your unfailing compassion

we can be made new

Sabbath Blessing

Mimosa, May 2022

May every corner of your heart be filled with God's effervescent grace.