Untie the Ribbons

I recently came across the above quotation in a book a friend gave my husband for Christmas. The quotation is credited to Ruth Ann Schabacker, and I love the message it conveys.

Our daily gifts come in all kinds of packages. If you are an early riser, your "gift" may be seeing an especially bright morning star out your kitchen window — or an extraordinary sunrise — all yours for the taking. All you have to do is "untie the ribbons."

Or it could be a smile or a small kindness from a stranger during the course of a busy day ... or a courteous driver who lets you into a long line of traffic ... or a totally unexpected compliment on your appearance or a job well done. Isn't it amazing how these "gifts" can lift our spirits and give us a whole new perspective on our day — all we have to do is "untie the ribbons."

And sometimes I think an even greater gift is being that stranger, or courteous driver, or compliment-giver. I know it makes my day brighter when I can do something kind for someone, especially when only the two of us know about it.

And speaking of gifts ... since I've been blogging, not a day goes by that I don't receive a "gift" in some form or another. It may be a gracious comment or personal note from a reader, or an especially touching or inspiring story shared by a blogger friend. And the genuine friendships, love, and compassion expressed by these blogging friends — people I have never met in person, and probably never will — are gifts I receive and untie each and every day.

My photography has brought me countless gifts, and most of them were hidden until I took the time to "untie" them by getting a closer look at something through my lens. Here are just a few of those gifts ...

The "flame" in the center of an Iris ...

The inside of a Cleyera seed pod ...

A chameleon resting on my butterfly feeder ...

Balloon Vine Seed Pods ...

A ladybug on Queen Anne's Lace ...

Those are just a few of the gifts I've received through my photography. I look forward to a new year filled with untying gifts like those ... and wish you the same.