A Worthwhile Practice

 

Gratitude. 

I haven't been the best student, but 

the Lord has been teaching me about this discipline ... 

my entire life. 

* dogwood blossoms turned to berries

Living where there's a turn of the seasons provides plenty 

of opportunities to cultivate a grateful heart. 

*heavenly blue morning glories on the courtyard trellis

In seasons of grief and loss, it helps me to look 

outward and upward, instead of inward. 

I've spent a lot of time outside on my one-acre, 

deliberately searching out beauty and 

stubbornly seeking the wonders He's provided. 

*sweetgum leaves as individual works of art

Gratitude is a practice I intend to continue.

How do you cultivate a grateful heart? 

* More about living a thankful life here. 

Turkey Talk

 It's high time to put the turkeys back in the buffet 

drawer for another eleven months. 

After all, Christmas has already snuck out of the attic

 and laid claim to every room. 

But these tattered birds hold their ground on 

our Hoosier cabinet, reminding me that 

gratitude 

never goes out of season and isn't intended to be 

tucked away in the buffet.

Thanksgiving should be a daily holiday. 

(more here and here)

So in honor of the turkeys' clarion call, 

let's continue to give thanks. 

I'm grateful for sunshine through 

boldly painted sweetgum leaves.

The last nasturtium bloom 

to withstand the ever-dipping temperatures 

is the very picture of gratitude.

May we each brave the cold as well...

with thanks. 

Get Noisy

Our Japanese maple spread its leaves in a 

wide, red skirt—a perfectly brilliant circle under bare, upraised branches.

What a peaceful way to go.

I'm plugging away at memorizing Psalm 100. 

Have you made any progress? 

Here's a visual aid—a photo of the Japanese maple before it lost its leaves. *

Our noise doesn't have to be cultured or clever,

sophisticated or insightful.

But it must be JOYful. 

Right here in mid-November, let's seek to bear this fruit of the Spirit. 

* Photo enhanced with free tools at the BeFunky photo editing website.

November Treasures

2017 is almost over and nature is giving notice. 

It's time to plow deep into the soil of this mostly-passed year 

and hunt for nuggets of GRATITUDE that churn to the top.

Those are the true unfading November treasures.

***

Meditating on a Thanksgiving psalm helps me focus on this season 

and resist being drawn into the next holiday too early. 

I'm trying to memorize Psalm 100 by Thanksgiving Day. 

Would you join me? 

Three versions here.

Various teachings on this chapter here.

Thanksgiving Hopes

A house fire of mold swept the interior of our Tiny House pumpkin-carving contest entry.

Just another sign that Halloween is long gone, friends, and Thanksgiving is upon us.

A turkey is nesting in my refrigerator, taking up way too much room.

My Middle Son asked for his favorite "McDonald's dressing," and I'll make it, 

just because it makes the house smell wonderful. 

What about a Thanksgiving stuffing scented candle instead of vanilla frosting? 

Chicken pot pie in a tall pillar candle instead of peach cobbler? 

Anyone?

I hope conversation this Thanksgiving will be filled with love—the 

kind of love that jumps over high fences of social and political issues 

for a hearty kiss and hug on the welcome mat.

I hope to enjoy simple, catching-up questions like, 

"How is your work?" 

"What do you put in these green beans?" 

"Did your gardens close well?"

and "What are you reading?"

May our conversations be seasoned with remember-when laughter 

and not spoiled by the angry rehash of 2016 headlines.

It may prove too much to hope for, but ... I plan to do my part. 

Will you? 

You will be enriched in every way to be generous in every way, 

which through us will produce thanksgiving to God.

2 Corinthians 9:11

More Thanksgiving thoughts here.

Savoring

Every holiday includes great photo opportunities.

People in the holiday spirit are willing to do unusual things.

And I heard from a reliable source that there's ALOT more fun to be had at the kid table.

How long will we have these days of laughter? 

Smiles and hoots of joy gilded by so-generous candlelight?

Are you savoring these days with me? 

Yes, believe me, 

I know it's not all fun and games, 
and tears of un-joy may also be shed when the family gathers.

But I'm trying to let those tears be like the pains of childbirth 

and allow them to slip out of my memories. 

I'm not going to listen when they cry "Here!" during the roll call of reminiscing. 

I'll pretend I didn't hear a thing and instead focus on recalling 

the smiles, the hoots, the winks, the hugs.
The Joy.