Last night, at my church's small contemplative service, my pastor passed the mike around so everyone could say what they are thankful for. I listened to the usual responses - pregnancies, grandchildren, marriage, family, jobs. While I waited for the mike to get to me, I worried about what I was going to say. Grace? Family? My marriage? The good job I was blessed with after taking a leap of faith and quitting the one I hated? I dread public speaking so I just wanted to get it over with. When my moment came, my answer was no more deep and reflective than anyone else's. Family, marriage, job.
A couple of people said they are thankful for a Christian spouse, Christian kids, the Christian spouses of Christian kids. That's all good and nice if you live a life insulated from people who aren't like you. But I don't. And I thought to myself, I am thankful even if my husband is not a Christian. The One who created my inmost being and knit me together in my mother's womb knew the choices I would make.
Of all the expressions of gratitude, I thought one was extraordinary. On the other side of the aisle, the mike was passed from one family member to another. The boy of the family said that after reading a book about coins and money, he is grateful for our monetary system! His answer appealed to me because there are so many things in life we old folks take for granted. The young and curious see the world with fresh eyes.
This morning as I drank my coffee, I read Garrison Keillor's post, A Trip to New York. I appreciate his quirky sense of humor. I appreciate the perspective of an old grump who can still say "It's good to be old. Every day is an adventure." After misplacing his driver's license and having his I-phone die on him, he wrote, "my phone is a God-given miracle. With this and my driver's license, I can go anywhere." The old remember what things used to be like. Every day truly is an adventure.
With the wisdom of the young and old in mind, I pause at the beginning of this week of thanks to express my gratitude for the ordinary and extraordinary things in my life.
- Convenience foods - like my morning OJ and banana
- Microsoft Excel. I couldn't work without it.
- Office supplies - Post It notes, Sharpies, dry erase markers.
- The body's ability to heal and protect itself
- Pain that fades so quickly I can't even remember where I got that bruise.
- Books
- The public libraries that lend out those books. For free.
- Netflix
- Crossword puzzles to expand my vocabulary and keep my mind sharp
- Sweet and salty granola bars and other delightful flavor combinations
- Good bosses
- Blue jeans
- Technical tees for my sweaty workouts
- Reusable grocery bags
- Printed and digital newspapers
- Raindrops on roses and whiskers on kittens
- Memories of loved ones I have lost
- Comfortable shoes, especially sneakers
- Baby belly laughs and Macey's giggles
- Electricity
- Prayer
- Lightening, thunder and rainbows
- The First Amendment
- Second chances
- Ibuprofen
- Personalities
- Music - rock and roll, classical, the blues, gospel and soul
- Oceans and beaches
- Diversity
- Givers, servers, volunteers
I am grateful even if. Even if things don't always go right. Even if I don't have a perfect life. Even if my prayers aren't always answered the way I hoped. Even if I have fears about the future.
Even if. Life is good.
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