Guard me as you would guard your own eyes.
    Hide me in the shadow of your wings. – Psalm 17:8

I am grateful for a reminder this morning that I am in the shadow of His wing.

I am grateful for the sound and smell of steady rain.

I am grateful for these words: “Thank you.”  It doesn’t take much to say them, and sometimes they are taken for granted, but it is noticed when they are left out. Betty, Katherine, Ruth and Avis are always so good to say “thank you” after Bingo.

I am grateful for flashlights. What a handy thing to have, especially when the batteries are good.

I am grateful for big pajama pants, a sweatshirt, and extra soft socks from Delores to wear around the house. Comfortable is wonderful.

I am grateful for simple grilled chicken that is a perfect ending to a hungry day. Thank you, Sam, for having dinner ready when I got home from Bingo.

I am grateful for Sam, because he is sacrificing his eating habits with me for 24 days. It’s nice to have someone with whom to experience this.

And I am grateful for a good hair day on a rainy day.

I am grateful that tonight is Bingo and I will see my Gables friends again.

On the way to work this morning, I thought about what would happen if I woke up one morning and could no longer see. The first thing that came to mind was not being able to see myself in the mirror to do my hair. I was so disgusted that I am so shallow and superficial. And then I thought about not being able to drive any longer. Being dependent on someone else to get me where I need to go, or do my grocery shopping or clothing shopping. Not being able to see the spring flowers or see the cardinal outside the window. Not being able to see pictures of my children and grandchildren.  I am so grateful for my eyesight.

I am grateful for the willpower to resist chocolate scotcheroos that were placed in front of me last night at the choir meeting. And I am grateful for my sense of smell, because it was a glorious smell that I was able to enjoy for an hour and a half.

I am grateful for hearing. Mine is not great, but it is good enough to hear giggles and music and bird songs and cartoon sound effects and whispers (although in my left ear only) of “I love you” and the crunch of potato chips and dried leaves and fresh snow underfoot.

I am grateful for water that is readily available. Karissa told me this morning that I should be drinking 12 bottles a day, or one gallon a day. And it made me think of those in our world who do not have access to water out of a bottle or the faucet. I am rich and don’t even realize it. I am wasteful and ashamed.

I am grateful for the reminder in my devotions this morning to take a sincere interest in someone today. The world does not revolve around me, and I need to revolve myself around someone else. I need to take inventory – when talking to friends and family, do I dominate the conversation and spend more time talking or listening? I need to use my sense of hearing and listen more. I need to use my brain and ask more questions and then really listen to the answers. Is it more important for me to talk about my “world,” or learn more about their world? What do I really know about that other person? 

And I am grateful for a new beautiful little one who arrived on March 25 to Roman and Vangie. His name is Garrett Paul Daniel Rodriguez, and he is beautiful.