All Creatures
In his hand is the life of every creature and the breath of all mankind.
Job 12:10
All things bright and beautiful,
All creatures great and small,
All things wise and wonderful,
The Lord God made them all.
These words written in the 19th century by Scottish hymn writer and poet Cecil Frances Alexander came to mind as I watched my grandson Daniel cup his hands around a baby frog.
Not your ordinary day, it was a day away from the city with its traffic and busyness. A day to kick back and enjoy nature and country fun. Along with his brothers and sister, Daniel had said hello to several creatures at the farm that day and taken a dip in the pond.
There had been a mishap or two, but none had interfered with what mattered.
Like 
milking cows. (Click to view)
And pigs.
There was a miniature donkey to pet.
And oodles of bugs.
I was reared on a farm where such sights were commonplace. Milking cows and feeding hogs were a twice-a-day occurrence. And there were bugs galore. But somehow all these decades later I was seeing the commonplace through the eyes of a child–not just any child–a treasured grandchild. And suddenly they were amazing.
Far from Daniel’s ordinary day, it had been a day to remember as we departed with hearty farewells and promises to return soon. 
Again Cecil Frances Alexander’s poem came to mind, this time the last stanza:
He gave us eyes to see them,
And lips that we might tell,
How great is God Almighty,
Who has made all things well.
Indeed, God has made all things well–bugs, boys, and baby frogs. The life of every creature and the breath of all mankind is in His hand. Thankfully, that’s a very good place to dwell.
Lord, give us eyes to see your wonders. And lips to tell how great and mighty You are. You have made all things well. For Jesus’ sake. Amen.