I have never been more cognizant of the gifts of God than yesterday when I had to renew my driver's license after a 12 year hiatus, being able to sail through the online process year after year. My bifocals were giving me fits at the test station and the kind man who was working the machines gave me four chances to get the series of numbers right in the viewer.

I've got astigmatism and should have used reading glasses, since I actually see distance better than close objects. Eyesight is essential when driving, especially to see headlights and tailights, since both are sources rather than reflections. Diabetics like myself often see more than one, and in my case, the further they are away, the more of three of a light source I see.

Life too is a gift, as I am finding out, having used a CPAP machine for some years, and I would not be here if not for that positive air pressure. Thanks to my doctor and the machine, I sleep soundly and have a great deal of energy during the work days. I don't enjoy revealing my weaknesses, but if I am to write cogent stories of God's work in people's hearts, I have to be honest about my own.

If life is a gift as the Bible says with an upbeat tone in that verse, than it is part of the list of things of which I must be thankful! Aging begins to remove the confidence we all had as youngsters, skipping about through fields of daisies.

You'll remember me when the west wind moves
Upon the fields of barley
You'll forget the sun in his jealous sky
As we walk in fields of gold--Sting

I do remember those fields of my life and my prayer is that I will pass on those perceptions to my kids.

Lord Jesus, as we sit comfortably at home, or in chairs at work or focus on the traffic from our air-conditioned cars, or stroll through manicured parks, remind us of what we have and cause us each to breathe praise to You for allowing us to see and experience these blessings.