This photo came together slowly.  First, I began to take in the graceful Lily pads floating on the surface of the dark water.  Then after a few shots I reposition the composition to include the beautiful pink blossom.  At that moment as I begin to search for a new angle for my next shot this dragon fly zooms in to take his place and begins to pose.  As I hold my breath in an attempt not to scare off my new guest I take this photo.

        One reason I love this photo so much is that it represents my father’s day present.  Now my daughters did not give me a lily pond or flowers or a dragon fly but they did give me the memory of a perfect day.  They gave me time enough to make a beautiful memory; one I shall treasure for the rest of my life.  They gave me a picnic and a long walk from high atop Mountain Long Lear National Wildlife Refuge.

        Later we shared donuts and pastries as we travel to Childersburg to enjoy Mother Nature’s air conditioning and the wonders of Desoto Caverns.  Then in the cool of the afternoon we walk through the Birmingham Botanical Gardens where we found this lily pond.  Then as we reach home at the end of our day they surprise me with a wonderfully thoughtful gift.  But the greatest gift I received from my daughters was the gift of their time, laughter and love.

        We found the time to look each other in the eye, hug and say those three little words that mean more than diamonds; I love you.  We enjoyed the benefits of taking the time to appreciate and praise that which we treasure in each other.  Perhaps before you lay your head down on your pillow tonight, find a way to tell those you love what they mean to you.  Take a moment to reach out and touch, write that note or place the phone call and tell someone how special they are to you.  Love is a choice; choose wisely.

Something to think about:

• Those blessings are sweetest that are won with prayers and worn with thanks.

• Gratitude shouldn’t be an occasional incident but a continuous attitude.

• A thankful heart enjoys blessings twice—when they’re received and when they’re remembered.

• Hem your blessings with gratitude lest they unravel.  

• Think sometimes of all that you have instead of wishing for what you don’t;  Joy thrives in the soul of thanksgiving.

• If you are not thankful for what you got, it is doubtful if you’ll be thankful for what you will get.

• It is better to appreciate things you don’t have than to have things you don’t appreciate.

Memories from a thankful heart
Rickey Moore