Grateful

I originally started this blog to take the leap and put my thoughts out for public consumption. My friends and family graciously read my words and gave me enthusiastic feedback on my writings. Yeah, that fear was conquered! Now, I have been dragging my feet for months to write another article, giving myself all sorts of excuses about why I haven’t been writing. It appears that I am a bit of a perfectionist in this area, not wanting to write unless the house is quiet and the circumstances are just right, not willing to put words to paper until they are more coherent in my mind, afraid that my words will not be well-received…and the excuses continue. Well, my dear husband has been telling me that he misses my blog, so I am going to write and publish this without the usual week of editing, trying to get it perfect, because I must get over myself.

I have a wonderful pastor-friend who finishes his weekly lessons to his congregation, and then says, “So, what are you thinking?” Right now, I hear his deep, mellifluous voice in my ear asking that question of me. And I have been thinking how very overwhelmingly grateful I am. I got to be in New York two months ago and saw some beautiful, New England fall color, and for the past two weeks, I have been speechless and breathless and close-to-tears at our stunning fall colors. I take each shot of gold or brilliant vermillion as a gift from my Creator. The deep periwinkle sky in each crisp afternoon makes me lift my hands and say Glory!

I am thinking how extremely grateful I am to have a large, loving family! My husband is enthralled with me. My children appreciate the care and love I give to them. My extended family is warm and gracious. The home I have been given is truly wonderful. It just wraps us all up like a big set of arms and gives us a beautiful and restful place to love each other.

I’m grateful for the delectable food that we get to share as a family. One of the results for our family of “these economic times” is that I have invested more time into doing something that I love to do—cook. I enjoy gathering good ideas and incorporating new tastes and techniques into our food, always looking for the first bite to produce that “Mmmmm”. This year, my favorite flavor to add to soups or Pizza or burritos is the smoky-sweet taste of barbeque. When I have created a yummy and nutritious meal, I truly look forward to sitting down to eat it and I consider the whole experience a gift from God.

I am thankful for the gift of friends. In these busy days when everyone’s time is often scheduled to the hilt, I think of a friend as having an interest in my life, another way to say they care. Care and interest requires mental energy, notice, attention. So, I thank all my friends for their attention, their caring. To be noticed is a gift from God.

I am about to turn 50, and I am thankful for my health. I do creak a bit, ache a bit, move a bit slower, have a thicker waste…hah! I don’t sound thankful, but if that is the worst of it, I truly am thankful. Sometimes being thankful looks like an acknowledgement of the problems, and then the conclusion that it could be much worse. It’s like the ancient saying, “I wept because I had no shoes, until I saw a man who had no feet.”

Don’t think that I am writing about being thankful because it is the week of Thanksgiving. I really do think this way all throughout the year, but there is probably a bit of divine providence playing into the fact that I am finally writing about gratefulness this third week in November. Aaaahhh, a deep breath of thanksgiving escapes me as I conclude this long-overdue note. Thank you, Lord!