ART & POETRY BY PAUL & KATHY BOECHER©

Pheasant hunting began about a month ago and will extend to early January Pheasants are beautifully colored birds that originated in Asia. They eventually migrated across the continent to Europe and eventually were shipped to new lands that were being explored. A great number of these lovely birds eventually made it to the Americas and have become the source of many pheasant hunts since the early exploration days. The plumage was used for hats and ornamental accessories. They were said to taste like chicken, but isn’t that true of everything that’s hunted? I married a hunter. I was surprised one day to find a pair of these recently murdered birds in the refrigerator – feathers and all. Rigor mortis had already set in. Since my own father wasn’t a hunter, I had to learn a new way of expecting the unexpected.

This print is a one of a kind and I love it especially because it shows the expanse of the bird, ready to take flight. I imagine these two were filling up on remnants from an empty cornfield. I am giving thanks today for the ability to pray openly to God, the Father. We have the benefit of that communication, because it was a gift that Jesus provided along with our salvation. We can talk directly to God, because the wall has been broken down. Today, give thanks for that gift. There is no need for an intermediary. God, the Father, is available to us at all times.

Give thanks to the Lord for His creation,

In His hands all things came into existence,

The trees perfectly designed and crafted to bring shade, comfort, and shelter,

The seas in all their majesty, blown into place by His breath,

Abundant with life, food for our stomachs and beauty to behold,

The sky is filled with the voice and color of His paintbrush,

A glimmering sunset, a rainbow of promise, clouds to gather the tears of man,

The secret places are His also, He formed great mountains from formless clay,

He carved the crevices from steely granite, penciled in the lines,

Washed the canvas with water, tweaked, punched, chiseled,

He created every living thing,

Formed from nothing into intricately executed works of art,

Giving the first man a likeness of Himself,

And the first woman taken from the rib of the man,

To forever be a part of him,

God is the Creator of all things,

Let us praise Him and thank Him for His wondrous gifts,

And remind us that He created us to be the caretakers of His creation.

THANK YOU, JESUS FOR ANOTHER DAY!