You make known to me the path of life; you will fill me with joy in your presence, with eternal pleasures at your right hand. Psalm 16:11 (NIV)
I sit on the comfy loveseat in our living room. Back against one armrest and feet propped up on the other. A ceiling fan revolves overhead easing a hot flash. How grateful I am for air conditioning. There is a concrete floor under me, but a rug covers it. Some dog hair is tucked into corners of the room, but how grateful I am it is not a dirt floor. Supper was late tonight, but we still ate well. Hamburgers on the grill and fried potatoes. Something quick and easy. After a hair cut appointment, I stopped to pick up some medicine for youngest son. How grateful I am for health care and good insurance. And medicines to prevent disease from killing us. Youngest son has pneumonia. Caught during our week sharing a room together in Guatemala I am sure. He went to the walk-in clinic today, but only after going to work first. He also has bronchitis, a sinus infection and both ears are infected. Yet, he swam in the deep end of the pool to practice his lifeguard skills. Because that is what he does. He honors his commitments. How grateful I am for a son who has a strong work ethic, despite the fact that I wished he had a little more some common sense. We’ve seen so many dark days with him and now, here he is bright and happy and in love. He will turn 21 on Sunday. Ten years ago, I never thought this day would come. And though he feels miserable, he thanked me for going to the store for his medicine. A sweet curly puppy lies by my side. She looks up at me and my heart melts. How grateful I am for this dog and for her big sister. She growls as Andrea pulls into the drive to let the horses out of the barn for the night. I can hear husband watching television in the next room. In a minute, he will take a shower to get ready for bed. How grateful I am for him. And also for hot running water. Tomorrow, a cabinet maker will come to give us an estimate. I will be so grateful to get our kitchen repaired. But, how blessed I am to have folding tables full of utensils and pots and pans to store within those cabinets. To have food in the refrigerator and bread on the table. And ice in the freezer so that I can make a Tazo passion iced tea with lemonade. Tomorrow, I will have work. Husband will have work. Tomorrow, we will get in our cars and drive wherever we like knowing that we have enough money to buy gas. Tomorrow, we will go out for dinner with friends. To a favorite restaurant and share a meal and laughter. I have much to look forward to. But, since tomorrow comes with no guarantees, I will focus on what I have to be grateful for. Just counting my blessings.
Amen!! And as always thank you for your kind words of support and encouragement!!!
You ARE blessed – as am I.
BTW, your son and I share a birthday!
I was really sniffing at this beautiful post….because it is…and I get so sniffy and teary when someone realizes how very blessed we are in this country even in the midst of "hardship" and it is generally someone who has been to a 3rd world country and come home grateful and humbled. Like I said…I really was touched until I read this line…"And ice in the freezer so that I can make a Tazo passion iced tea with lemonade" and the totally superficial shallow me me me self took over completely shrieking…OMG I MUST HAVE THAT RECIPE! Would you email it to me please!! It sounds too wonderful.