Friday, May 28, 2010

My dearest God,

A toilet taught me to say thank you. I had just washed a floor so I went to the bathroom to throw out the dirty water. I tipped the bucket and emptied it along with the cloth I had used to clean. "No!" I cried out as I watched the rag being sucked down the upstairs toilet. I put down my bucket and stuck my hand in the toilet. Sure enough, I felt the ragged edge and pulled it out. "Thank you, God!" I shouted.

Simple objects remind me to say thank you to you. I was grateful that my cleaning cloth did not clog the toilet requiring a plumber's care. As I went about my work, I thought about other things that cause me to pause and express gratitude. My front room bay window that has a lovely view of our tree-lined street. My Sebo sweeper that works so well on hardwood floors. My clean basement. The pretty fabric I recently purchased to cover my desk chair. Creative ideas for a closet. An edged and swept walkway. A comfortable bed.

Everything around me can teach me to be grateful even irritating things like driving 45 minutes to buy curtains and purchasing the wrong size. A broken lamp, one I really loved. A swollen knee that hinders me in my work. A mean-spirited neighbor.

I want to live in gratitude each day, O Lord. I want to have a spirit of thankfulness within me whether the sun shines or gray clouds hover. I want to daily remember you as the source of my gratitude.

You bring
sunshine and showers,
O God,
and both
can call me
to give thanks.
Remind me
of that
when something
does not
go my way.
Thank you
for your love
that is
always present.

As always, Andrea