I am grateful for a sweater. Today, I am Mr. Rodgers. I walked in the office, took off my jacket, and proceeded to put on my sweater that has a permanent place on the back of my chair. “It’s a blue-tiful day in the neighborhood, a blue-tiful day for a neighbor, won’t you be mine…”

I always loved that piano music…

I am grateful for the beauty of blades of green grass standing at attention in the morning sunlight.

I am grateful for the smell of clean sheets.

I am grateful for the painful opportunities that come around for me to see who I really am.

I am grateful for my God who gave Jesus to the world in order that I would have a way out of darkness, in order that I could experience the deepest level of grace, in order that I would have the example to follow of what it means to really love, to really show kindness, to really hold others in higher regard than myself.

Reflect upon your present blessings of which every man has many – not on your past misfortunes, of which all men have some. – Charles Dickens

I am grateful for the sound of excitement in voices.

I am grateful for bacon.

I am grateful for sunbeams.

And I am grateful for periods in my life when I realize I need to step back, reflect, and regroup. Such a time is this.