A couple years ago I sat outside of Starbucks by myself drinking a tall decaf no room Americano. It was a beautiful evening and the sky was already starting to turn into different shades of red, yellow, and orange. Sunsets and sunrises are sedatives for me, and although I haven’t seen too many sunrises 🙂 , I have risen to the sound of an alarm from time to time.

The developing sunset in front of me was going to be wallupalooser. By the time God finished painting the sky, His canvas that night was absolutely breathtaking. It was a spectacular 360° horizon to horizon gift straight from the throne room of God, painted by His own hand. The sad thing is, nobody saw it but me. Let me explain.

Starbucks connects to Fred Meyers and as many shoppers were scurrying on the walkway in front of me, I could hear many conversations on their way to the front door. Most were conversing about the broccoli, hamburger, and other purchases that they needed to make either for dinner or for a replacement item for the home. I snapped a few pictures with my phone and searched the crowd for just one person who was taking time to gaze upon God’s handiwork. I could not find one onlooker. Not one.

However, that sunset made me very happy in that I felt that God had painted it just for me. Thank you Lord. What an awesome display of artwork. All of the shoppers never even noticed God’s artwork that evening. I felt a personal closeness to God that night as He took time out of running a universe just to give me a private viewing of His talent, especially since I was the only one who saw His splendor.

Sad to say, everybody takes the gifts of God for granted at one time or the other. How many of us even take the simplest of gifts for granted like our sight, hearing, taste, smell, and touch. God fearfully and wonderfully made us.

I will praise thee; for I am fearfully and wonderfully made: marvellous are thy works; and that my soul knoweth right well [Psalms 139:14 KJV].

We take so many things for granted and even though God does not need us or our approval, I think that it hurts Him when we do. As parents we are well aware of how it feels when our children take us for granted. . .thankless help that we give them, their expectance of things that they need, and doing things in our name.

So. . .the next time you gaze upon a beautiful sunset or hear your kids call you mom or dad for the first time, thank the lord God. The next time you take a bite out of that juicy steak or smell the fresh outdoor mountain air, thank the Lord. The next time you embrace your spouse and feel their heart beating against yours, thank the Lord God. Everything we are and everything we have is a gift from God. As for me personally, I am going to do my best not to take God’s wonderful gifts for granted.

Lord, help me never to take you for granted. Therefore Lord, I take pause and thank you Lord for all of those folks who faithfully read my writing. I thank you Lord for my family and for all of my friends, each and every one of them. I thank you Lord for the air that I breathe and for the beating of my heart, but Lord, I thank you mostly for your love for me, for your forgiveness, and for your Son, Jesus Christ, and His sacrifice for me. I finish off my day Lord and come to you in the spirit of thankfulness, giving you praise and glory, in Jesus name, amen.