The month of June brought many celebrations in our extended family: anniversaries, birthdays, graduations. At one point, our three sons and their families, (minus one who couldn’t make it), plus a niece and family, and friends from Brazil, were all here at one time! We gathered in our front yard for a simple meal and as I looked around, I was filled with gratitude for each and every one. It seemed as if sheer grace had brought us together. That night, when I went to bed, I found myself saying prayers of thanksgiving for the many roads we had traveled together and the experiences we had shared and will continue to share.
Over that same week-end, one of our daughter-in-laws was attending her family gathering in celebration of their parent’s 60th Wedding Anniversary! Through all seasons, some really hard and some really joyous, and many in-between, families are a blessing.
Gratitude. As I think of each person in our family, and remember our friends, I am grateful for each one, for their strengths and gifts, for their unique imperfections, and for the ties which bring us together. What an amazing and motley crew!
My husband gave me an orchid for my birthday that is unlike the others we have. It is filled with blooms which, rather than arching nicely in a bow shape, the way most orchids do, go in all directions. There is no one neat stem. There are three stems, each with off shoots, contributing to the beauty and richness I see in them. And the orchids, rather than being one color and design are all different. They are all some shade of purple, but, they each have different markings. Somehow that plant reminds me of our family.
I know I don’t say “thank you” to each and every one as often as I mean to. In fact, when I stop to think about it, I most often may just be saying “thank you” in my head. Its like saying “I love you.” We feel it more than we say it.
So, right now, right here let me say, from the depth of my being, I am grateful for my family and I love them, each one. And I am grateful for good friends and appreciate them more than I ever say.