Wednesday, May 16, 2012

Dearest God,

Learning to savor life in the simple things has been one of your greatest lessons.  How can we really appreciate the big things that come along the way unless we have taken stock of small things?

In these last few days in bed recovering from an endocrine problem, I have paused to explore the world around me in a small space.  For instance in my second floor bedroom, I have been appreciative of the window nearest my  side of the bed.  The gentle breeze, the sound of falling rain, and even the sound of neighbors walking their dogs has blessed me.  I look around the room and my eyes fall upon an 8 x 10 picture of my grandmother when she was in her late teens.  Memories rush back. I see a picture of my husband and me smiling for a church picture directory.  I love the color of the room, the delicate white voile valances and even the floor fan that keeps me cool at night.  The bedding was purchased with monies given to me by my staff at Christmastime after we bought this old house.  How I loved them for that.  I think of the horrible condition of this room before we renovated it.  I remember the restorationist helping us to reclaim the room, my husband who did a lot of the dirty work, and my friend who loves doing renovation flying out with me for four days to clean, repair, prime, and paint the room.  I think of a couple of retreatants who slept in this bed and felt like they were in the Ritz as I slept downstairs in my sleeping bag because we had 11 for the five day retreat.  There's nothing in this room that doesn't speak in some way or another of you.

Who can ask
for big things
if we
have not said
thank you
for the
small things,
O Lord?
As I ponder
my blessings,
I always remember
who brought them
to me.
As I
await healing,
health, and wholeness,
I simply breathe
thoughts of thanksgiving.
My heart
is grateful.

Love, Andrea