Season of Gratitude The children are upstairs, laughing and talking as my spouse tries to quiet them with a bedtime story. I sit outside enjoying the setting sun, an unopened book resting on my lap, a cup of coffee growing cold on the table nearby. A sense of accomplishment from a day’s work well done […]
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Season of Gratitude Flowers struggle to bloom for a few days of glory. Mosquitos live but a single day. Trees exist for hundreds of years. Is life less precious for being short? Is life more special for being long? Each person lives for the time allotted to each, whether a single day or a century. […]
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Season of Gratitude For tiredness and sleepless nights, I thank you, Lord. For the people and the cause I care about that keep me awake, I thank you. For work that both excites and drains me, thank you, Lord. For the ways you creep into my nights and wake me to let me know that […]
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Season of Gratitude “All I want is a little appreciation for what I do around here. A ‘thank you’ now and then.” “Why should I thank you for helping around the house? It’s your responsibility just as much as it’s mine. You’re not helping me out; you’re just doing your share.” The argument continues; we […]
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Season of Gratitude Oh, for this to be over and finished! So much effort, so much work, so little recognition, so little visible progress. And even recognition is so fleeting. Here today, gone tomorrow. I am so discouraged! But I have a reason to get up every morning. I have work to do that gives […]
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Season of Gratitude For days she doctored and nursed her sick kids, cleaning up vomit, washing sheets, spooning out chicken noodle soup, and finally they’re well. They’ve returned to school! The phone rings. The school nurse reports that the “bug” has bitten her son again and that he needs to come home. She feels miserable […]
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Season of Gratitude How many times do I need to say, “I love you,” before someone believes me? Once? Twice? Seventy times seven? Can I ever say it too much if I truly mean it? How many times do I need to say, “thank you,” to change an attitude? Once? Twice? Seventy times seven? You […]
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Season of Gratitude The strains of Pachelbel’s Canon in D Minor repeat over and over, intertwined with the gentle sounds of ocean. “Mom, that’s the same song over and over again. Aren’t you sick of it?” Surprisingly, I’m not–I need to hear the music for at least thirty minutes before I finally begin to relax. […]
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Season of Gratitude “I’m sorry,” the two fighting boys begrudgingly say; they shake hands under the watchful eyes of the playground supervisor. They don’t truly mean it, of course, but at least the effort was a start. For the moment, the apologies put an end to their fight. I don’t always have to mean it […]
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Season of Gratitude In the worst situations, in our darkest hours, we can always discover a reason to give thanks. Hard to believe? It’s true. And when I can find no human reason to give thanks, the Spirit helps me offer thanks. I don’t always need a reason. Sometimes I just need to do it. […]
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