“The dog is the most faithful of animals and would be much esteemed were it not so common.  Our Lord God has made His greatest gifts the commonest.” – Martin Luther

I am fortunate to see how dogs can change the lives of people with disabilities every day.  A dog can break down social barriers for a child with autism.  A dog can open doors or retrieve dropped items for a person with a spinal cord injury.  The dog is just one example of many gifts God has made common.

Epiphany is about gifts and it is easy to overlook daily things – common things – that are gifts.  In this season of Epiphany, as we look for light in our darkness, let us rejoice also in the gifts God has made “the commonest.”

Prayer:  Lord God, thank you for the many gifts, both common and exceptional, you have given us today.  Amen.

Deaconess Shannon Chaney, Santa Rosa, CA