Bring Me Home Rejoicing

So, today is my birthday.  Some people love birthdays, some people hate them.  Me, I'm a bit mixed about them.  I don't have any issues with getting older (it certainly beats the alternative!) but I often find birthdays a bit of a letdown.  They are supposed to be such a big deal and everyone is supposed to know and make such a big deal about it.  For an introvert like me, it can be a problem - I get a bit hurt when not much is made of it (my dh is a wonderful man but birthdays and Mother's Day are not his strong suits).

I woke up this morning feeling just the tiniest bit blue - it's a Tuesday, Dh is out at a meeting this evening, I have to work and can't even get out to lunch because my workload is so heavy at the moment, it's piano lesson day and there isn't even time for anything special for dinner.  Really, it's a non-event kind of day.  I set out with the dog for our morning walk feeling just the littlest bit unappreciated and then, God managed to get my attention BIG TIME.

Each morning, on our walk, Chelsea (my older and more sensible dog) keep an eye out for the various forms of wildlife that inhabit the natural areas of our small town.  This spring, a particular favourite of ours has become "my" fox - I'm sure she's a she and she often runs out in front of me on our path.  I've seen her peering over a mound of dirt, running out in front and one day, she even stopped to bark.  Needless to say, whenever I see her, I haven't got the camera.

This morning, as I walked, I dreamed that, as the best birthday present, I would get a chance to see her and get a photo.  We entered the area where she usually is but there was no sign of her.  I was feeling very disappointed when I just happened to glance up to my right.  I just about jumped for joy - there was no Mama Fox but there were two, obviously very curious kits, peering back at me.  Not only were they there, they stayed for several pictures.  It actually brought tears to my eyes.  

It reminded me of one of my favourite lines from one of the morning prayers from "Common Prayer:  A Liturgy for Ordinary Radicals", a book that I adore:

May the peace of the Lord Christ go with you: wherever he may send you;

may he guide you through the wilderness: protect you through the storm;

may he bring  you home rejoicing: at the wonders he has shown you;

may he bring you home rejoicing: once again into our doors.

Needless to say, I did some rejoicing this morning at the wonders!