Dear Reader:

Yesterday afternoon, as I sat down in front of the computer and thought about the day and what I was feeling…I suddenly heard the words in my head: “All Things Bright and Beautiful.” 

“Exactly!” I thought to myself. “All things bright and beautiful” sum up my day exactly!” Yesterday morning when I went outside to start picking up some fallen tree branches, remnants from the storm, the cool breeze blowing was so refreshing. Everything smelled clean and fresh and brimming with color!

And that verse…how I loved singing that song as a child…it always made me feel happy when I sang the lyrics. Little did I know that the hymn was first published in 1848 in Mrs Cecil Alexander’s Hymns for Little Children. 

Refrain:
All things bright and beautiful,
all creatures great and small,
all things wise and wonderful,
the Lord God made them all.

1 Each little flower that opens,
each little bird that sings,
God made their glowing colors,
God made their tiny wings. [Refrain]

2 The purple-headed mountain,
the river running by,
the sunset, and the morning
that brightens up the sky: [Refrain]

3 The cold wind in the winter,
the pleasant summer sun,
the ripe fruits in the garden,
God made them every one. [Refrain]

4 God gave us eyes to see them,
and lips that we might tell
how great is God Almighty,
who has made all things well. [Refrain]

The idea for the lyrics are credited to: Samuel Taylor Coleridge’s The Rime of the Ancient Mariner.

“He prayeth best, who loveth best; All things great and small; For the dear God who loveth us; He made and loveth all.” 

Another source of inspiration, most likely derived from William Paley’s Natural Theology, published in 1802,  argues for God as the designer of the natural world. For example, the hymn’s second verse alludes to “wings” and verse 7 refers to “eyes”. Paley cited wings and eyes as examples of complexity of design, analogous to that of a watch, with God as the Divine Watchmaker.

All Things Bright and Beautiful Bible Basics – YouTube

My whole day yesterday was bright and beautiful…working in the garden, sharing beautiful friendships at lunch, and later supper….It is days like these that remind us that, in spite of the worrisome situations going on in our country and the world, that God is still in charge and right now, right this very moment, He has shared His beauty with each of us.

Now I will share some of my beautiful day with you through a few photos..

A delicious lunch at Sue Anne’s with Mev and Gin-g! Sue Anne “Put on the Ritz” for us! So enjoyable…thank you Sue Anne!

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So until tomorrow…All things bright and beautiful,
all creatures great and small,
all things wise and wonderful,
the Lord God made them all.

“Today is my favorite day”  Winnie the Pooh

Rabbits and Ice Cream…a winning combination!

The day ended at Oscars where I had supper with my across-the-street neighbor, Vickie, and new friends, like Michelle.