I am grateful for fingernails that scratch.

I am grateful for fingers that type.

I am grateful for arms that hug.

I am grateful for shoulders that provide when leaning is needed.

I am grateful hair that pulls back into a ponytail.

I am grateful for a nose that smells the glorious, the good, the bad, and the awful, and grateful that it is there to hold my reading glasses.

I am grateful that 34 years ago, I didn’t lose hearing in both ears, so that I can still hear the sounds of a child in the background on the phone when I am talking to her Mommy.

I am grateful for a tongue to bite, and for the teeth that bite the tongue even though they aren’t the best right now – at least they are still there, attached and letting me know they are still there.

I am grateful that my tongue is covered in taste buds so that I can enjoy the taste of melted butter on fresh-popped popcorn.

I am grateful for eyes to see the beauty of a butterfly wing, or the way frosting swirls, or beautiful soft curls in a granddaughter’s hair, or the sparkle on glittered shoes.

I am grateful for knees that bend to pull a weed and tie a shoe.

I am grateful for ugly feet that aren’t worth spending lots of money on so that I save money by not buying pretty sandals or expensive pedicures that would probably gross me out.

I am grateful for a bum foot that will forever have pain, because it reminds me that pain is inevitable, but I am strong enough to endure and withstand it, survive it, and above all, I can FEEL it.

So, I am grateful for my nerve endings that allow me to feel, to taste, to see, to hear, to smell, to cry, to laugh, to dread, and to enjoy all that is around me.