Gifts & Graces: August 2023

In normal life we hardly realize how much more we receive than we give, and life cannot be rich without such gratitude.

Dietrich Bonhoeffer

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

Crickets. Summer means going to bed with the windows open and listening to crickets. When it’s sweltering hot, we have a lot of fans running at night, and I don’t hear much of anything else. But recently, it’s been cool enough to have the window fans off, and I can listen to the crickets as I fall asleep. It’s a unique summer sound that I enjoy savoring because I know it won’t last much longer!

Back To School. Even though I don’t go “back to school” these days, I still want the experience of new supplies! I am very particular about my pens, pencils, and notebooks – and I go through a lot. This time of year, indulging myself in new supplies is a treat. I recently bought a “sampler” kit of fountain pens and fine-tip gel pens, which allows me to try some new brands. It makes me inordinately happy for a small investment of money.

Recess. Continuing the school theme, I’ve been scheduling what I’ve nicknamed “recess” into my days. By mid-afternoon, I lose energy and enthusiasm for doing much of anything. So, I’m experimenting with a scheduled break for “play” around 3 p.m. It feels like I’m treating myself like I would a toddler, but there’s something comforting in paying attention to what I need and then actually providing it. This is in direct contrast to my “adult” approach to the mid-afternoon slump: having a decidedly unhealthy snack and another cup of coffee and then forcing myself to keep working. Because there are serious, important things on my list to be done, and adults suck it up and keep working. Instead, I’ve been reading or sketching (and trying not to judge my results critically) or listening to music (I’m still fixated on listening to The Eagles). And after a while, I’m usually willing to start making dinner or do other chores. (Although I have to be careful about reading since I love it so much I often can’t tear myself away until I’ve finished the book.)

(A Little) Something New. A friend and I usually meet once a week for coffee. This week, we tried someplace new and discussed how surprisingly enjoyable it can be to incorporate something new into our schedules. I love my routines, but I forget that it’s easy for me to fall into a rut. Deliberately seeking out something new has a way of shaking things up, and I only realize afterward how much I needed the novelty and freshness. Change can make me anxious, so it’s easier to start with tiny doses of novelty, but I’m hoping regular amounts of small change will help make it easier to accept (and even welcome) more significant changes.

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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.