Gifts & Graces
Being unappreciative might mean we are simply not paying attention.
David Whyte
Here’s my random gratitude collection of mostly small but sometimes large things that helped make January better.
Someone Else’s Puzzles. I have a dear friend who does a lot of puzzles. Hard puzzles. For me, doing puzzles crosses the line from “having fun” to “sheer frustration” most of the time. But I love hearing about the new puzzle she has picked out and following her progress. She usually texts me a picture of the puzzle in progress and again when it’s complete. And these are surprising hits of joy in my day.
Snow Boots. I haven’t had a well-fitting, comfortable pair of snow boots in years. My husband gave me new Columbia boots in December, but I didn’t try them until our first snowstorm in January. After dealing with uncomfortable boots for years, I am so happy to have warm, well-fitting boots. I almost feel like a kid again, looking forward to putting on my boots and getting out into the snow!
Electricity and Heat. Mid-month, a tree-cutting crew who were trimming branches away from the power lines managed to catch a tree limb on one of the lines, damage a transformer, and knock out our power (and that of everyone down the street from us). Inevitably, this happened on a frigid January day! We were very grateful that three repair trucks showed up an hour later. Within 20 minutes, they replaced the part of the transformer that had broken. Electricity and heat are usually so reliable that I typically take them for granted.
New Journals. My family knows my love for journals and notebooks and that I use a lot of these every year. I received several new journals for Christmas (along with some fabulous new pens) and am thrilled to have new, pretty, pristine journals just waiting to be used.
A closing prayer
Dear God, it can be so easy to focus on what goes wrong every day – from minor annoyances to big worries. Help me see and appreciate the beauty, gifts, and graces that also come every day. Draw my attention to these so that I recognize how much You love and provide for me, often without any acknowledgment or appreciation in return. And as I appreciate these gifts, inspire me to be Your hands in the world and bring a bit of joy, comfort, or support to someone else.
Amen.
Falling Up After 50 
I love this monthly blog and look forward to reading it. It’s a great reminder for all of us to stop and smell the roses, regardless of their size and bloom. As for your comment about heat and electricity, you are spot-on. We take that for granted daily, until the time that we lose it. Thankful for the men and women who are climbing poles in horrendous weather conditions to give us back this gift.
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I had to laugh at myself while the power was out, because I would still walk into a room and flip on a light switch. It showed me exactly how strong my belief was that electricity will always just be there! (And graphically demonstrated the power of habits.)
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Good morning, Cathy! Thank you for this post of gratitude. It’s a good reminder as the sun offers more warmth, the birds appear more lively and colorful, and we remember thar life stirs beneath the ground. Grateful for you!
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Thanks, Barbara. You’re right – I’ve noticed the sun more in the past few days after what seemed like multiple weeks of cloudy weather. And it now rises before 7am and there’s still some light in the sky after 5pm. Signs of spring approaching!
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You seem to be reading my mind and always brighten my day! The paragraph about your new boots made me laugh because I too finally have boots that fit and are warm, waterproof, and rugged. What a game changer! The closing prayer is a beautiful reminder for me to pause more often. Thank you Cathy!
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I’m glad you also are enjoying new boots! It’s amazing to me how much happiness can come from a small thing like good boots.
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i can never be reminded too often to express gratitude for the countless ways God has blessed me, thanks so much for *your* reminder!
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And I am always grateful for the things you do that make my life consistently better!
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