What a year. Easily the best of my life. The birth of our son has made me realize how important it is to let go of anger and negativity...and to appreciate the little things. The way my nine month old wakes up with a big grin, the way he lunges forward to kiss me with a big slobbery open mouth, the way he squeals with delight as our dogs "fight" with each other. The way he yells, "Nah Nah!" (Mama).
During the week of Thanksgiving I gave a lot of thought to thankfulness, that sense of gratitude...is it the root of happiness? I wonder. A sense of thankfulness for all that God has given us, the beauty and grace in ordinary people and everyday things. Thankfulness is a choice, don't you think? With a year like this, it's easy to feel thankful. Other times, it takes more effort to see what is "right" with your life, what is "good"....I've met people with nothing who seem genuinely happy...and I've met others who grew up in wealthy families-- some are very humble while others have a sense of entitlement that rub e the wrong way. How do you teach gratitude? Through modeling it? My biggest fear is that our son grows up and takes everything he has for granted. I've recently gotten into scrapbooking and for me, it's like my way of showing what I'm thankful for...what delights me, what makes us laugh, who we cherish...maybe this is one way of showing gratitude.... spending time putting thought into what matters, into who matters, instead of what doesn't.
