Life Lessons – Gratitude

The other day as I was driving home from my mom’s house, I had a revelation. My little bear was sound asleep in his car seat behind me and the crazy mutt was snoring next to me in the passenger seat. I had just turned off the radio to enjoy the relative quiet. It was an over cast day, but then the clouds thinned out in front of me. Not completely, just enough to show me the perfect circle of the sun.

Pinterest - theenergysolar

It occurred to me then what an amazing gift this life on this insignificant rock really is. I felt incredibly small and yet enormously loved all at the same time.

Do you ever stop to think about the miracle that is our little planet? Do you know how many different factors had to be combined in just the right way in order for us to even exist? It is a thought process that would take multiple lifetimes to fully comprehend. No matter if you believe that it was a “big bang” or God’s work, the process that brought us here is none the less amazing. It is a fact that we should be celebrating every day.

I am not very religious, but I do consider myself spiritual. To tell the truth, I am working on that aspect of my life - still learning and growing. At that moment it occurred to me what an amazing gift the world was. I know that in the grand scheme of the human experience, I am not necessarily all that important… and yet I am still blessed with the ability to know love, joy, and contentment. Driving that day I truly knew all three.

I may not change the world. I do not know all the answers. In fact I am as much a “work in progress” as you can get… and yet I love and am loved.

Pinterest - Emily Booher

It is that ability to love and give love that I am most thankful for at this time of year. It is in the extra smiles shared by neighbors, or strangers bustling through the stores. It is present when we gather with our families to share a meal or just to watch a movie. It allows us to be compassionate when we donate to those in need.

I was not looking forward to starting the four hour trek home the other day. Little did I know that a wonderful revelation was waiting for me!