Of Abounding (Confounding) Luxuries

I used to equate the word luxury with the things money can buy!As I grow older, more and more I realize that the true 'luxuries' of life/loveare so often overlooked, having nothing to do with plump pillows, fine wine,tropical climes, etc.!!! There's nothing like the trouble and sorrows of this world to open our eyesto take notice of beauties/luxuries we might otherwise never give thanks for! The luxury of laughter spills like sparkling silver starsWhile innocence of tots teaches their teachers how to trustThe morning rolls unsullied over still hushed, blue-brushed barsLaden with fresh reminders of life’s numbered days of dust Ah, precious little nose to wipe and chubby cheek to kissAh, joy, full of surprises to cheer us midst constant caresAh, means to make amends when hasty judgement flies amissAh, God’s Word-wellspring never drained of faith’s bedrock for prayers …as courage counts hope’s blessings where sorrow and sickness groansWhere so much more than we deserve comforts our creature cryWith promises made possible because God’s grace atonesAnd suddenly we do not need to know the reasons why …as we advance across the threshold of what waits to beTuned to time’s tender treasure in moment-measure unfurledExtravagantly lavished with the priceless luxuryOf words like ‘we’ and ‘us;’ surely the dearest in the world God, let us not be guilty of sight-blind indifferenceWhile beauty’s coffers overflow with fleeting season-leaseForbid that we should live, embittered by the dissonanceWith ears, deaf to the music of Life’s Sacred Masterpiece God, tilt our visage upward beyond what thought understandsWhere learning to be humbly grateful draws us to our kneesAnd makes us meekly more aware of what still fills our handsBrimming, if we take notice, with abounding (confounding) luxuries © Janet Martin Watching Janet feed the birdies... Many, O LORD my God, are the wonders You have done, and the plans You have for us--none can compare to You--if I proclaim and declare them, they are more than I can count.