As Mary watched the rays of the rising sun, she noticed the ground was wet, and the air carried the sweet smell of recent rain; a few drops were still falling off the edge of the roof. The clouds had begun to break, and when Mary looked west, her mouth dropped and shaped the words, “Wow! A sunrise rainbow!” Then she thought, “I’ve seen late afternoon rainbows in the east before, but this is the first I’ve seen at dawn in the west. What a wonderful gift from the early morning rain and sun!”

Watching the rainbow as it faded, she recalled the story of Noah; and how at the end of the great flood, God had placed a bow in the sky, saying, “This is the sign of the covenant that I make between me and you and every living creature that is with you. Never again shall all flesh be cut off by the waters of a flood; and never again will there be a flood to destroy the earth.”

Reflecting, Mary thought: “That’s God’s promise to all creation; not only to humans, but to every living thing. It is a sign of God’s concern for all that exists.” Then she recited these words:

Gracious God of our future,
giver of our hope and joy;
Source of life, spring of promise:
Touch us with your gifts this day.

Give us eyes to see your work
Glistening all around us;
Open our hearts to perceive
The gifts you place among us.

Thank you, Lord, for daily gifts. Amen.