Unexpected Beauty

When you have eaten and are satisfied, you shall bless the LORD your God for the good land which He has given you.

We went house hunting in the late fall. The home we owned at the time was lovely, but I could see right through the window to my neighbor’s kitchen sink. It was also on a corner lot, with the yard situated in the front. There was zero privacy and no backyard to speak of.

In our search for a new place, we were determined to make sure it included a backyard. I grew up on an acre of land in northern Minnesota, with a big backyard that butted up to trees. Wild beauty was all around us; the Mississippi River was just a couple of blocks from our house. Even now, trees and water remind me of my childhood and the comfort of home.

But as we began to walk through potential homes with our realtor, I had to revise my hopes. Many homes had yards, but most were small squares with little privacy. I felt a little disappointed but figured that a smaller space was better than none at all.

By the time we toured the home that was to become ours, checking the yard felt like an afterthought. We peered outside, saw patchy brown grass and scraggly branches, and moved on. Backyard—check.

Imagine our surprise when spring arrived. The once-barren branches filled in with glorious foliage, and the pond in the wetlands behind us came alive with the sound of countless frogs. At night, I would open the window just to hear them sing. The best part is the trees, which lie thickly across the back and side of the property. They remind me of my childhood. They feel like home.

Over time, we added to the bare slabs of concrete behind the house: an area for fires, a patio, a playset for the kids. The backyard we’d given only a cursory glance had become a haven.

It’s good land, and I’m grateful that I get to see it out my window each day. But I’m even more thankful that God knew the desire of my heart and answered it in a way that makes me smile just to think about it. What a gift—the gift of home.

Kristin

Today’s Act of Gratitude

Thank God for something in his creation that holds special meaning for you, whether it’s a piece of land or something else.