Thursday, December 27, 2007

Thankful Thursday

We hope, above all, that somewhere, sometime throughout this holiday season you have felt love. We hope you've seen it, heard it, showed it and honored it. We certainly have here, thanks to you. What you've done for us, what you've done for each other, what you've done in memory of a darling child who's become an angel to us all, what you've done to be better, to do good, to put kindness into action--all of this has been miraculously beautiful. We are so blessed. We are so thankful.

And we hope you've been able to treasure the little things this season, too. Like the soft, salty texture of a cashew that was planted and nurtured on the other side of the world. Or an original handmade gift that combined hands, thought & creativity just for you. Or feeling the warmth of whomever occupied the couch with you. Or the glow of moonlight reflecting from carpet of snow outside or the drifting steam off a mug of hot chocolate or green tea. We hope you treasured smiles and the hugs.

Don't overlook the ordinary. There are a thousand blessings in every moment, if you look. Each breath and heartbeat, every color, texture, taste, smell. A lifetime of blessings, beauty, love. Thankfulness is like water. Allow yourself the release, the cleansing, the quenching that gratefulness brings.
-Mary Lee Bonasera Matthews

1 comment:

Melissa said...

Yes, simple things...
Watching my children as they watch a Christmas snowfall...Christmas traditions that have been handed down for generations...a special visit from a "special" Santa...dedicating my solo at the Christmas eve service to a dear family friend who is 100 years old, and seeing the tears in her eyes as she thanked me...sleepy eyes of a little 5 year old boy opening wide when he hears the words "Santa is here!" on Christmas morning...hugs of loved ones that I don't see often enough...my 95 year old grandfather playing with my 5 year old and his train set (and not being sure who's having the most fun)...watching my husband hug his aging mom and dad because "you just never know"...having so many people in our family who love us that it sometimes gets "hectic" to see them all at Christmas, but oh how thankful for that we should be...for friends who are always there in good times and bad times...and for the promises that each Christmas and the following NEW YEAR bring...the old and the new combined, hanging on to the past as not to forget, but letting the promises of tomorrow console and inspire us...so MUCH to be thankful for.

Big Love,
Melissa