A New Day
by Mary Manners
It’s a brand new day. How will you choose to spend it?
We all are familiar—some more than others—with this drill: A
small child rides in the backseat of the car and his constant chatter is a
distraction—and sometimes an irritation—to the driver. Again and again, he asks, “Are we
there yet?” Eager to arrive at the
destination he wants the car to move faster. He is beyond impatient.
In our day-to-day activities, we are often
like that child, scurrying at lightning speed from one task to another, devoid
of the simple pleasure of life’s journey and the landscape that forms our life.
Time passes in a blur, and when we do take a moment to grab a breath, we wonder
just how the hours turned into weeks, months, years and even (yikes) decades.
Slow down. Enjoy the ride and drink in the scenery—a
mango-tinged sunrise, the laughter of a child, perhaps a friendly chat with a
lonely neighbor. Discover the purpose of your actions and take few minutes to
thank God for the countless blessings in your life. Soon, instead of the
nagging, “Are we there yet?” you may find yourself exclaiming, “Wow, how did we get here already?”
When life’s hectic pace threatens to steal joy, remember to so
many wonderful moments in time, and to appreciate a world filled with children’s
laughter, kind words from a neighbor and the beauty of a new sunrise. Along the way, you might even discover a new story idea (or two).
This week, take time to relax and discover the people with whom you are journeying through life. Listen to the wind whispering through trees, smell the musky scent of changing leaves, enjoy a cup of flavored coffee (or tea), and tilt your face to the warm sunlit sky with a smile.
~~~~~
When a job
transfer causes Jenna Palmer’s family to relocate across the country, Jenna
moves away from her best friend and first love Carter Stevens. She promises to
find him again. But as the years slip away and she dives into a career in
pediatric trauma surgery, all that is left of her one time love are the
memories—and a wish on the lucky penny Carter gave her.
Carter Stevens
never forgot his first love. On their final morning together he gave her a
special token along with his promise to love her forever. Though years have
passed as he’s climbed the ranks of the Maple Ridge Police Department, he still
longs for another glimpse of the smiling, green-eyed beauty who stole his heart
and shared his love of adventure.
When an accident
brings the pair together once again, memories and reality collide. Will their
promise stand, or will time crush their promise…and their love?
~~~~~
Mary
Manners is a country girl at heart who has spent a lifetime sharing
her joy of writing. She lives in the foothills of the Great Smoky Mountains of
East Tennessee with her husband Tim and their rescue dog Axel, mischievous cats
Colby and Rascal, 8 rambunctious chickens, and 13 fish.
Mary writes stories full of faith
and hope. Her books have earned multiple accolades including two Inspirational
Reader’s Choice Awards, the Gail Wilson Award of Excellence, the Aspen Gold,
the Heart of Excellence, and the National Excellence in Romance Fiction Award.
Mary
loves long sunrise runs, Smoky Mountain sunsets, and flavored coffee. She
enjoys connecting with reader friends through her website: www.MaryMannersRomance.com.
