chores
The clock showed the time as 5:11am. Searching my mind for the last thing I remembered before dozing off I calculated a decent five and a half hours sleep. Although I desired to go back to sleep my mind was wide awake with the early chores of the day already planned out. Even Gracie, the Golden, was still curled neatly on her bed when I slid on my fuzzy slippers and made my way out from the bedroom. The daily dose of thyroid booster ingested, the world of chores began to open up. As I collected wood, stoked the fire in the old stove, walked the dog, and put on some eggs to boil, I was suddenly struck by the recollection that the day was Thanksgiving. The morning had already been underpinned with my thoughts of thankfulness for family, for friends, for supply of needs, but most importantly, for relationship with the Creator. Although life has not been the “bowl of cherries” I may have desired as a child, neither has it been a disaster that I may have feared. Through the years, joy, sorrow, challenge, disappointment, pain, excitement, and peace (among others) has each been underpinned with gratitude for that relationship that sustains now and forever – the relationship with God. Although Thanksgiving is a designated day in the United States, thanksgiving is more than a holiday; it is a way of life
A chore filled day had preceded a sumptuous homemade meal for dinner. The table chatter rendered from our granddaughter bits and pieces of experiences from camp that day. Her riding escapades had taken second place to the water events with the other campers. The leisurely after dinner activities included watering the garden and harvesting the cucumbers for pickling. Reveling in her new found ability to ride her bicycle our girl mounted the new cycle and took off for a journey around the house. As I stood near the deck watching I could hardly believe my eyes as she rode down the hill straight toward a giant black walnut tree. Shouting for her to apply the brakes I watched in horror as she ran squarely into the tree. We ran to her aid as we helped her untangle herself from the forced tree hug she had engaged. With just a few scratches and a lot of her tears behind us we settled down with thankful hearts for a restful evening ahead. The experience dulled not a moment of her enthusiasm to experience the fullness of her summer adventures. After a third day of “horse camp” experiences she returned home to mount the bicycle again. This time, brakes were in full function and her joy of peddling around and around the house was fulfilled. Success is measured not by avoidance but rather by intentional engagement!