Gratitude

Giving Thanks

Small moments. A hand on your shoulder. A lick on the face from your dog. A genuine smile and hello from a cashier. A door opened when your hands are full. A baby’s small hand wrapping around your finger. Wise words from a grandparent. The light going up in the eyes of a loved when you come home. Even the lawnmower for that damn yard.

Community. The potluck dinner you dreaded, but turned out to be fun. A Get Well card for a sick co-worker. The surgeon who saves lives. The housekeeper that makes houses spotless. The tired mother that does endless loads of laundry. The church food pantry for the poor. The teacher that believes in a student. Even the police officer that pulls you over.

Country. The forefathers with a vision. The Civil War that ended slavery. Interstates that stretch from coast to coast. The military members that put their lives on the line. The melting pot of people. The hope and dream of a better life. Even taxes.

Earth. The ever-changing ocean with ships a sailing. The seasons. The mountains and the valleys. Farmland. The animals that roam. The sunrises and sunsets. Time. The tireless, steady rotation of our planet. Even hurricanes.

Life and death, to ever remind us that our presence here in our families, communities, countries, and on Earth is finite. Live.