Last night, as I was relaxing in the fibers of my beloved couch, I got a phone call. The caller gave me a belated birthday greeting and told me how she walked away from death.

She was on her way to a retreat when her tire blew. The vehicle spun out of control and flipped four times. One passenger was thrown from the vehicle.

At the time of the accident, there were no other vehicles on that stretch of highway except the two other vehicles that were following this one. A miracle for a busy stretch of highway.

The ambulance and rescue personel responded - having to cut the passengers out of the vehicle. No one was seriously injured. They all went to the hospital to be checked out. Everyone ultimately walked away. A miracle.

When I think about this caller, and all that happened, I give God the praise. You see, she could have been killed in this accident, but God had anther plan. They all walked away. It makes me wanna sing “Count Your Blessings.” For we only have to look at the photo that was released to see what God has done!

It’s been a good week. I thank you for stopping by my blog! On Monday, my fish died. I blogged about that on Tuesday. And, while it has been an adjustment for me – I’m okay. My Godmother’s and Grandfather’s birthdays are this week. Joy! What a blessing they have both been to me.

It has got me to think less about my own personal circumstances and more about the circumstances of those around me.

In my sphere of influence, I make choices daily. In your sphere of influence, you do as well. Each moment of each day, we make a decision to either follow God or follow Satan. We make a decision to love God or love the world. Each moment of every day – the choice is our very own.

I choose to be happy for the years that I had for my fish – to God, I’m grateful. And, although there will not be anymore fish in my home anytime soon, I have wonderful memories of a very personable fish. There really was no fish like him!

Instead of choosing to think negative thoughts, I choose to think glorious God-affirming thoughts. I choose to think of what a wonderful God I serve – who happens to make glorious little fish with big personalities.

I choose to thank God for the opportunities that I have to live life and enjoy it to the full – even in the midst of bad times. I choose to think about others and not myself. I choose. You choose. WE choose. Thank you Lord!

I believe that God finds value in all living things. Each living thing has a purpose and each living thing is good – simply because God created it. Genesis backs me up on this. So, it is with a heavy heart that I report that Jordan, my beloved fish of 2.5 years, has died.

Now, some of you may be ready to trip out that I am posting with a heavy heart about a pet fish. But, that’s the difference between valuing the created because of the Creator and being casual about the created. I’m not indifferent to Jordan’s death. I do care. And, I believe that God cares too.

Jordan was a happy fish. He brought me tons of joy. He swam around in his tank with authority and devoured every good meal of yummy bloodworms and Betta bites. Towards the end of his life, he lost part of his vision and some of his color – I told him he was growing gray – an old man in fish years. During the last week, he also lost most of his appetite. I knew his time was coming and prayed that God’s will be done and that I would be able to accept it.

Every morning when I bound down my steps, bellowing out his name, he would greet me by the same side of the tank. But alas, not anymore. In yesterday’s mist and rain, I held a private service for Jordan and committed him to the earth.

I’m posting this private moment as a public plea for you to take time to value every created thing, pet fish or otherwise, if for no other reason than to reverence the Creator.