“Everything Is Beautiful” Ray Stevens
Jesus loves the little children
All the children of the world
Whether yellow, black and white
They are precious in his sight
Jesus loves the little children of the world
Everything is beautiful in it’s own way
Like a starry summer night
Or a snow covered winter’s day
And everybody’s beautiful in their own way
Under God’s Heaven
The world’s gonna find a way
There is none so blind
As He who will not see
We must not close our minds
We must let our thoughts be free
For every hour that passes by
You know the world gets a little bit older
It’s time to realize that beauty lies
In the eyes of the beholder
And everything is beautiful in it’s own way
Like a starry summer night
Or a snow covered winter’s day,
Everybody’s beautiful in their own way
Under God’s Heaven
The world’s gonna find a way
We shouldn’t care about the length of His hair
Of the color of His skin
Don’t worry about what shows from without
But the love that lives within
And we’re gonna get it all together now
Everythings gonna work out fine
Just take a little time to the look on the good side my friend
And straighten it out in your mind
And everything is beautiful in it’s own way
Like a starry summer night
Or a snow covered winter’s day,
Everybody’s beautiful in their own way
Under God’s Heaven
The world’s gonna find a way,
And everything is beautiful in it’s own way
Like a starry summer night
On a snow covered winter’s day
For your consideration…..
I often say how happy I am when I get a song for the day’s message. If I am honest, today would be an exception. While I love the words to this song, I do not like song. I don’t like it because it is one of those melodies that just keep going through your head like a stuck recording. You just can’t get rid of it. But again, if I am honest, there is no better song to represent the message for me.
Our message today is that there is beauty in all things….in all people. In the humble, in the ugliest of days, in the meanest people, in the saddest moments, in the most ordinary etc., there is beauty. It is up to us to know this. It is up to us to expect and, if necessary, dig for it.
For me, this song is a perfect lesson/example of today’s message. I had to get past the melody to see and feel the beautiful lyrics…the powerful words.
Today’s message is not always easy but we are up for the challenge.
That is the HOPE. And so it is.
Bit by bit, piece by piece, HOPE by HOPE action steps anyone can take…..
-Meditate/pray…..ask…..”Ask what is my next step for my highest good and the highest good of all?”
-Drink likes of water.
-Get outdoors and take in at least 10 deep breaths.
-Look for the beauty including in yourself.
What made me smile yesterday……
-Sunshine.
-Absolutely pure joy. I took my 3/4 th graders out for a morning recess. Last week the wind chill made it too cold and then there was no school for a couple of days so this was the first time they had been out in a week. To make it even more perfect there was 3-5″ of fresh powder snow on the ground and…….NO ONE HAD MADE ANY MARKS IN IT YET…..until we got there. Snow angels, body sledding and snowballs were too much fun.
-Ginger and I went to lunch and then to see Aunt Dorothy. Yes, she is thinner she eats very little, but she was happy to see us, happy for the flowers and magazines we brought her….totally interested in them. She was content, comfortable and in good spirits. When you are one month shy of 100 years old, this is good.
-A happy Alex. Happy with her flight and a funny email describing it.
-I made potato soup for dinner with cheesy biscuits. Bruce, thinks I am a culinary wonder. See….he sees the beauty in the small things.
Love, Blessings and Gratitude,
Rev. Chris
