Just Checking In

A beautiful Spring morning in Maine (after a just about a month of rain, it seems). The sun is shining, the birds are singing, and it's the start of a long weekend. I and my Honey are about to take a walk to the coffee shop down the road, so I'm only stopping by to say I love you, and God is good. Simple as that. I leave you with a poem called "The Thorn" [HT: Aron of Some Thoughts], Martha Snell Nicholson:

I stood a mendicant of God before His royal throne
And begged him for one priceless gift, which I could call my own.
I took the gift from out His hand, but as I would depart
I cried, "“But Lord this is a thorn and it has pierced my heart.
This is a strange, a hurtful gift, which Thou hast given me."
He said, "“My child, I give good gifts and gave My best to thee."
I took it home and though at first the cruel thorn hurt sore,
As long years passed I learned at last to love it more and more.
I learned He never gives a thorn without this added grace,
He takes the thorn to pin aside the veil which hides His face.