Heat and humidity consume the out of doors space now as the official days of summer are about to begin. The day’s camp supplies were packed and granddaughter’s breakfast was prepared and eagerly consumed by her before we hopped in the car for the journey to Pelham. It is deeply satisfying to see her so excited about the discoveries about to unfold for her each day. New adventures with new found friends at the camp fill her with stories to share on the journey home in the afternoon. We are ever so grateful for the opportunity to share in the life discoveries of our granddaughter. These times provide us with great joy and equip her with life long memories to recall in years to come. Ours are hearts filled with gratitude for being a part of days making memories. May your day reflect a bounty of thankfulness!
A mist hangs in the distance as an overcast sky provides containment for the moisture laden fields. Some severe storms passed through last evening from the south on their northern trekked journey. Gusts of wind and rain drenched the landscape and the garden bringing needed water and unwelcomed blows. Unsecured flower pots and light weight yard furniture became unsuspecting victims of the blows. Today presents opportunities for collecting and correcting the wayward objects from their windblown locations back to their decorative stations. A reprieve from the unseasonable heat has followed the line of storms and we give thanks for greater comfort in pursuing our restoration tasks. Experience has taught this boomer that gratitude makes the task of restoration or repair easier to endure. The load seems lighter in the presence of gratitude than under the weight of pessimism or perceived burdens. May your day be brightened in the presence of thankfulness and your burdens lightened by arms filled with gratitude!
The timing was right. Arrival at the kiosk adjacent to the MRI rooms gave enough time to complete the patient surveys and sit for less than a minute before being called to an office also serving as a dressing room. Instructions to remove all items from my pocket were useless since my pants had to be removed for the procedure. Personal items secured and paper shorts adorned, I was led to the waiting white machine with the giant white wheel into which I would be inserted. Given earplugs to protect my drums from damage and a pillow under my knees, a warm blanket was placed over my torso and hand holding the emergency call device. I was told to relax as the procedure would take about twenty minutes. Slowly I was transported on the moving table into the waiting white cylinder where buzzing, popping and ultimately what sounded like battling gunshots consumed the space. Never having experienced claustrophobia my mind wandered to what it must be like; what must be the precipitating thought or experience that leads to the fear that must consume in that space. Not wanting to create my own experience, my thoughts wandered to the magnificence of the technology that created the device into which I was inserted. Again, buzzing, popping, and rapid firing erupted to consume the space. I heard a faint voice calling my name and stating that the procedure was over. The blanket was removed as the call button was retrieved and the earplugs deposited into the waiting hand of a technician. Upon standing, I suddenly understood the yellow wrist band stating “Falling risk.” As I placed my watch back on my wrist I observed the time indicating the entire procedure had taken less than 45 minutes to complete. Fraught with thankfulness that the procedure was available and that it had been so very easy to navigate, my drive home was filled with uplifting thoughts of gratitude. A grateful mind has little room for angst and displeasure. May your mind be filled with gratitude this day!
At the dawning of the sun the mist was rising from the surface of the pond. Miss Gracie the Golden was searching for a suitable spot to deliver her morning deposit as the sounds of grackles and crows were distracting her. Suddenly from the depths of the valley below the pond, a gobbling warning from a wild tom turkey arose three times. Something must have threatened the flock for such a stern warning to have erupted. Whether fox, raccoon, coyote, or snake we will not know, but we do know the warning gobbles ceased. Gracie returned to her quest for just the right spot and found the location worthy of her deposit. Life could now return to its scheduled agenda of preparing morning coffee and listening to the voracious canine consumption of the morning feed. Life frequently offers up distractions from our otherwise intended agenda. Our challenge is to discern the nature of the distraction as either inconsequential or as a warning of something being amiss. Aches and pains are considered part of the aging process and are often treated as simple distractions. Sometimes persistent pains emerge that require more than mere accommodation. They require our attention to uncover their nature and potential intention. Sometimes the source can be identified and its effect may be either eliminated or diminished. At other times the source may remain unknown and can only be addressed with palliative care. In either case a basket of gratitude from which blossoms of thankfulness may be picked lifts one’s spirit and shines a brighter light on one’s journey.
A snooze button served to be the extender of a few more minutes of sleep. Alas, the morning was calling and the day’s agenda began to unfold. Memories of a productive and warm weekend with family and friends serve as thankful fodder for a new day in a new week. Sitting in the comfort of my recliner listening to the snoring sounds of a Golden Retriever at my feet offers a temptation to join her majesty in a few morning winks. However, stamina for facing healthier days is built not by reclining, but by putting into motion the physical and mental exercises that help to restore some of the flexibility and agility lost to a progressive “affliction.” My gratitude for the opportunity to work toward renewal provides motivation to act in that direction. Even in life’s most difficult moments I find the presence of thankfulness for the evidence of grace to be a comfort that provides a peace that defies description. May you discover a grace filled day as you dwell in a place of gratitude!
The glare of the bright morning sun streams through the kitchen window illuminating all in its path. A brightness not experienced other times of the year is shown in the kitchen space as summer is nearly upon us. As I gaze at the space occupied as the kitchen I recall the original room as it was before its transitional evolution to today’s design. The old wood cook stove sat in the corner of the room with suitably chopped wood in the bucket nearby. Near the entrance close to the hallway and back door was the old ice box. The ice man would deliver ice twice each week and that unit maintained refrigeration for a family of four. The old kitchen sink sat in the corner and was used sparingly as water was stored in the tank behind the house. Dad would crank the old gas engine pump near the spring to renew the supply of water each day. The power company had refused to extend power lines to the three houses on our farm because there were not enough homes in our area to economically justify the lines. Memories of those early years as a toddler on the farm were brought to mind as the modern kitchen of today was brightly displayed in the morning sun. I don’t recall a single instance of either parent complaining about their lack of power or need to take so many extra steps to prepare a meal. Instead, I recall how thankful they were for what they had and the blessing of a home and family. A house is but a structure that contains some functional elements for occupants. A grateful family enjoying the space together makes that space a home. May your heart find a place of gratitude that creates the place called home!
Guests and co-workers were gathered around the patio table as others were lounging in the comfort of the deck chairs. The hotdogs and hamburgers had just been cooked on the grill as some of the folks were chomping down on their freshly assembled goodies. The sun was bright and the air more humid than any other day this season. As we looked to the northwest, the sky was darkened by the approaching clouds. Anticipating a drizzle at best, we continued our chomping and chattering in the bright light of the noon time sun. Suddenly, a sprinkle began followed by a gust of wind and then the downpour of blowing rain. Each scrambled to secure their meal and retrieve table items from under the covered patio. No one was immune from the rapid spread of torrential rain that ensued. All items secured then on the kitchen table, the group gathered comfortably in the living room with plates in hand and stories of times gone by. The gathering was delightful and the garden got its due. Fellowship and friendship flourished during those grateful moments of sharing, safety, and satiation. An interruption by the weather led to teamwork, accommodation, and the fun of sharing. What might have been viewed as an “awful” interruption by some was embraced as an opportunity for sharing and caring. Gratitude illuminates the view that changes impediments into opportunities.
A device intended to help facilitate walking was fitted on my right foot and leg a few days ago. The difference in my gate is significant. There is less stress in my left hip and leg and greater support on my right leg and hip. The walk from the parking garage to the stairs ascending to the enclosed walkway that led to the medical center and the physical therapy suite was so much less stressful with the new prosthetic engaged. After observing my walk the therapist then set me on a series of exercises to correct many of the “compensations” I had been making for the not so nimble limb. The exercises are sometimes difficult and painful, but result in greater agility and flexibility. The best way I know to express my gratitude for this new opportunity with movement is to engage the exercises that will optimize this new “lease” on walking. A new walk with an old gate diminishes the effectiveness of the new and reduces the full benefit. Gratitude, then, emerges from the “feeling” heart and gives witness by its action. May your grateful actions today be expressed from the depth of your heart!
The view of Shenandoah Valley in Virginia is spectacular as one travels along the interstate highway. Rolling green hills dotted often with red barns and cattle grazing in vast fields were illuminated by the radiant sunlight pouring through the crystal blue sky. The enormous mountains in the distance remind one that this beautiful place truly is in the valley. We traveled this route twice this weekend. The first journey through the valley was distracted by the anticipation of getting to our Pennsylvania mountain retreat through roads not traveled before. A safe arrival and inspiring weekend prepared us to be in a more thankful and peaceful mind as we journeyed back home. The valley had not changed, but our minds and emotions had been stimulated to a place of peaceful gratitude so that when in the midst of the valley we were in awe of its beauty like never before. Perhaps we learned a valuable lesson along this journey. The grandeur of one’s view is influenced by the state of mind and heart through which the view is filtered. One’s eyes may be the receptacle, but one’s heart and mind are the interpreters. A grateful heart is the best lens through which life is viewed!
In the pre-dawn moments as all was quiet, my mind awakened to a plethora of unfinished business. The process of cleaning gutters was mentally engaged as I wandered off to some barn roof repairs and then to a recollection of my father sitting in the old corn crib, long demolished, proudly showing the corn he had so expertly shucked. In those twilight moments I realized I was drifting in and out of sleep. People for whom I prayed came to mind and I realized the list was long. As I thanked God for the privilege of another day I became fully aware of the blessings surrounding me. The presence of a loving God; the assurance of my eternal presence with Him; the opportunity to be living in a loving faith-filled home; and the opportunity to live out these blessings in humble gratitude gives rise to a thankful heart. The challenges of this day are unknown, but the truth of God’s grace is sufficient to face them all. “This is the day the Lord has made; we will rejoice and be glad in it.” Psalm 118:24.
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