Gifts & Graces: July 2023

I do not at all understand the mystery of grace–only that it meets us where we are but doesn’t leave us where it found us.

Anne Lamott

Here’s my random gratitude collection of mostly small but sometimes large things that helped make July better.

Summer Fruit. Although I often struggle with consuming enough fruit, it hasn’t been a problem for me this summer! I’ve been craving the sweet, juicy, crisp flavors of in-season fruit. Sadly, the bizarre spring weather destroyed many of Massachusetts’s strawberry and peach crops this year. But I’ve found that supermarket berries and peaches are much better than I remembered and are an acceptable substitute. Fresh figs are a breakfast treat. And Trader Joe’s carries reasonably priced Ranier Cherries (usually available only for a short season, so they feel extra special). I’m even enjoying watermelon since I discovered I don’t need to buy an entire melon and struggle with hacking it into consumable chunks.

Being At the Ocean. Having grown up in New England and living here most of my life, I take for granted that I can get to the ocean anytime I want with minimal effort and planning. I don’t often get more than my feet into the water (New England water is murky and cold at the best of times), but every summer, I am reminded how meaningful it is to spend time at the ocean. During a week on the Connecticut shoreline, I spent an inordinate amount of time pretending to be reading but really just staring at the water. It relaxes, inspires, and shifts my usually overactive brain into a different way of being.

Early Morning Walks. Neither the dog nor I can handle long lunchtime walks during the heat of summer, so I’ve shifted to early morning walks several days a week. When I start the walk, I usually need some supplemental motivation to get going, so I plan my route to include a coffee shop to pick up an iced coffee. But once I start walking, I remember how much I love being outside in the cool morning when it’s quiet and peaceful. And I add on little detours to explore and add some additional mileage.

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A closing prayer

Dear God, please help me pay attention to the many gifts and graces You bring to my life. Let me gratefully acknowledge the people and things that fill my days with joys that range from small comforts to immense love. And thank you, God, for being with me each day. I am humbled and inspired by how Your Spirit works through the actions of so many people.

Amen.