The "Perfect Day"

I have a friend who I share an affinity with for "perfect days". We have the same idea of what a "perfect day" looks like and all we have to say to each other is that it is a "perfect day" and we know what it means!  Before you take off in a direction I am not intending to go, let me define my idea the "perfect day".  See picture below.

Nuff said.....

A "perfect day" to me is one when the sun is shining, the sky is that beautiful indescribable blue, there are few white fluffy clouds placed here and there, and the temperature is between 70-75 degrees, with an occasional breeze, just for my enjoyment. The past two days in Cuba, New York have been perfect days! One thing that I now enjoy about "perfect days" is that even when I have to work I can still go outside. I am so grateful to the people and hands that have made this possible. The amazing picnic table pictured below is my "other desk".

My other desk...on the back porch.




Let me share with you the advent of my very first recognized "perfect day". It was August 29, 2001, my very first birthday celebrated without my mother, who had passed in October of the previous year. My mother and I always used to chuckle about how it "always" rained on my birthday, at least at some point during the day. Even the day I was born was a deluge per my mother. I remember one birthday in particular having no electricity because there had been bad storms all day. It wasn't anything terrible really, but as a child I remember always wishing for a sunny birthday-all day long.

That day in 2001, I was attending an informational insurance meeting for my husband's office. When I left that morning it was gray and foggy out. It matched my mood to some degree, as I was missing my annual 'good morning birthday call', from my mom. I drove through the fog to the meeting and of course since it was an informational insurance meeting, it was boring. The really amusing part came when they had a prize drawing of all the people registered in attendance at the meeting. I won the drawing! Cool on my birthday and everything!! You'll never guess what I won. Go ahead. Guess!

Yep....an umbrella! (with the insurance company's logo on it of course) Wow. I couldn't help thinking how appropriate that prize was. It was my birthday. It was going to rain at some point. My mother and I would have had a great laugh over that. That made me miss her more. Following the meeting I made my way out to the car with my new umbrella in hand. It wasn't until I was halfway home that I realized that it wasn't raining, at all. It didn't even look like it was going to rain. As a matter of fact, if I had to conjure up the most "perfect day" in my mind, that day was it. I pulled off along side the country road I was driving, rolled down the windows, turned off the ignition, and sat enjoying the beautiful day surrounding me. I couldn't stop the tears that were running down my face. I couldn't help but imagine (and yes I know the theology on this isn't the best) that my Mom went to God and told Him how very much I wanted a sunny birthday. It was a true gift from God, but I will always wonder if my Mom wasn't behind it. I still cry tears of joy just thinking of it. It was a beautiful "perfect day".  It never rained that day. Whenever I encounter a "perfect day" like today I can't help but feel like God is smiling down on me, and maybe my Mom too.

My Mom has been in the presences of her Savior for 13 years this year.......and not once since she has been gone has it rained on my birthday....not even part of the day. Perhaps it will rain on my birthday sometime again, but I am grateful for the blessing given me  that day so many years ago and so many since. I treasure every "perfect day" I have the privilege of experiencing. I pretty much like all of the days, but "perfect days"...well there just aren't words to describe what they do for my heart.

"Take delight in the Lord, and he will give you the desires of your heart."

Psalm 37:4

That day God knew the desire of my heart and comforted me in the way I most needed.