To be grateful for the good things that happen in our lives is easy, but to be grateful for all of our lives – the good as well as the bad, the moments of joy as well as the moments of sorrow, the successes as well as the failures, the rewards as well as the rejections – that requires hard spiritual work. Still, we are only truly grateful people when we can say thank you to all that has brought us to the present moment.…Let us not be afraid to look at everything that has brought us to where we are now and trust that we will soon see in it the guiding hand of a loving God. – Henri Nouwen

The sun is shining. The Chiefs will be playing. I am not starving. I am working to improve my physical body as well as my soul. I have Sam by my side and am loved. I have a son and three daughters who make me very proud. I am the Ama of 12 beautiful grandchildren. I have two cats whose purring gives me contentment and smiles. I have a job that I love and a home that I love. I am walking again in the fresh air, and now I am beginning to realize how tough an elliptical can be, thanks to Sam’s birthday gift to me. I have contact with friends and family and church quite easily via the internet. I have wonderful neighbors. My Dad is alive and well. I am drinking healthy smoothies now, complete with fresh strawberries, blueberries, pineapple, bananas, cherries, peaches – mostly fruits I would never eat because I was and am so picky. I have a piano to play and books to read. I can see the beauty, hear the glorious, feel the wonderful, smell the amazing, and taste the incredible. I am happy to refrain from the noise of anger and crazy. I know that I am a child of the living God and I know that He loves me.

It is a good day to count my blessings and be grateful.