Just some early morning thoughts from me to you…

“And walk in love, as Christ loved us and gave himself up for us, a fragrant offering and sacrifice to God.”
Ephesians 5:2 (ESV)

More than likely you won’t find a sense of peace or too many examples of love focusing on the latest news of the day.

I can’t be certain, because I no longer watch much of that at all.

But that would be my sense.

I do have a sense of peace, though, as fall begins to enter our lives.

With the air a bit cooler, grass growing a bit slower, leaves changing colors, and fires beginning to be set in our home fireplaces.

All adding up for me to an attitude of gratefulness.

Also an attitude of gratefulness for this—the World Series begins this week.

Gratefulness knowing that some important things do remain within the fabric of our culture.

The annual fall Major League baseball classic pitting the best team of the American League against the best of the National League—playing a best-of-seven game series for the right to claim to be the best team for the year in Major League baseball.

A time of remembering and reflecting on wonderful moments from the past—of every pitch, at bat, hit and home run shared with family and friends.

Of every agonizing strikeout and unbelievable game-saving plays, all woven into the lore and traditions of America’s Pastime.

Including traditions like those of the World Series yellow roses. Which my bride will receive a dozen of again this year for the fifty-fourth year in a row.

Never once missed, and always yellow roses given to her on the first day of that year’s World Series.

A tradition which sprang from a selfish purchase on my part, just months into our marriage.

But a tradition then wrapped in love because of the way it was handled by my bride. So much so, that it became a required tradition year-after-year. Yellow roses now also given each year to our daughter-in-law and granddaughters.

It was Lynda’s smile back then, and her smile flashed a thousand times through the years, which always told me she understood and loved me.

A simple tradition between us, not measured by worldly things or stuff, but reflecting an attitude of gratefulness, and a sense of understanding and love.

A tradition grounded in eternal things, not temporal.

A tradition of lifted lives—mine for sure—and encouragement, not focused on self.

A Christ-like tradition—World Series Roses honoring our relationship and the memories made, but really honoring my bride and the Christ with whom she walks.

Thank God.

In His Name–Scott