Gratitude, the attitude that keeps on giving...
What a day of soul food I have had. I just wanted to share a bit of it with you in hopes that some of it will take root in your life and blossom into happy. :)
During church today our pastor talked about how when we receive God's gift of grace, we can't help but have a spirit of gratitude, which in turn leads us to want to live with more gentleness and graciousness towards others. Wow. I love that!! And it's so true. I am awed by all the good things in my life. I have a daily existence that is abundant with amazing people, a warm dry house, a loving supportive family, a job that challenges me and provides for my needs, and enough rainy days to really make the sunny ones appreciated.
After church a passel of us convened at The Old Spaghetti Factory for lunch. The Husband and I sat at one end of the long table and it afforded me a clear view of about 20 of my closest friends. Through the course of the meal every so often I would sit back and just watch my loved ones. I loved seeing the individual conversations that were happening, mostly happy and animated, but a few tears were shed too. Authenticity is so refreshing isn't it? I love being in real relationships. These people and I have been friends for about 30 years. Not a lot of people can say that. These are ones with whom I have always been my true self and they are STILL sticking around. We basically grew up together. I watched some of them get married, then I got married. We've had kids at the same time, traded childcare with each other, co-parented with each other, traded recipes and home repair knowledge and vacationed together. We've laughed with each other through the silly, grieved with one another in the sad, and appreciated the mundane together. I remember making an SOS call to one of the couples when our pipes got clogged. Ten minutes later the husband arrived with his plumbing snake to fish out the offending article. Other times when the call would go out that one of our kids had been involved in some sort of childhood accident, we would all show up at the emergency room to offer support. We've spent countless hours in each other's homes for Superbowl parties, New Year's Eve shindigs, bible studies. We've served and continue to serve at church together. I can't even begin to recount the times and ways these people have actively been my family. My community. They have woven themselves into my tapestry so deeply, that I wouldn't be Kris without them. That's a pretty powerful weave my friends. And I'm grateful. So very grateful.
I will leave you with this. And I know you've read the same sentiment several times on this blog. Politicians come and go. Economy ebbs and flows. Issues du jour heat up and cool down. It's good to have opinions. We all have to stand for something don't we? Make sure that what you sink your time and energy into is worth it. I'm here to tell you, people are worth it. Build your relationships with time and intention and those relationships will repay you a hundred-fold. Show gratitude to the people in your life. Listen when they need to be heard. Hug when they need to be held. Show up when your presence is needed. I do not always meet the mark when it comes to doing these things. I see ways I could improve and am working on it.
I wish for all of you that you have a table to sit at that is filled with vibrant, engaged, precious people whom you've built your life around. What a gift! The best way to receive such a gift, is to go be that gift. So go, have a fabulous rest of the winter, because you know what? Spring is just around the corner! Go plant some relational seeds, so that your harvest will bless your table for many years to come. :)
Make it a great day!
photo by KP :)
(friends at table photo courtesy of www.tislstyle.com)
During church today our pastor talked about how when we receive God's gift of grace, we can't help but have a spirit of gratitude, which in turn leads us to want to live with more gentleness and graciousness towards others. Wow. I love that!! And it's so true. I am awed by all the good things in my life. I have a daily existence that is abundant with amazing people, a warm dry house, a loving supportive family, a job that challenges me and provides for my needs, and enough rainy days to really make the sunny ones appreciated.
After church a passel of us convened at The Old Spaghetti Factory for lunch. The Husband and I sat at one end of the long table and it afforded me a clear view of about 20 of my closest friends. Through the course of the meal every so often I would sit back and just watch my loved ones. I loved seeing the individual conversations that were happening, mostly happy and animated, but a few tears were shed too. Authenticity is so refreshing isn't it? I love being in real relationships. These people and I have been friends for about 30 years. Not a lot of people can say that. These are ones with whom I have always been my true self and they are STILL sticking around. We basically grew up together. I watched some of them get married, then I got married. We've had kids at the same time, traded childcare with each other, co-parented with each other, traded recipes and home repair knowledge and vacationed together. We've laughed with each other through the silly, grieved with one another in the sad, and appreciated the mundane together. I remember making an SOS call to one of the couples when our pipes got clogged. Ten minutes later the husband arrived with his plumbing snake to fish out the offending article. Other times when the call would go out that one of our kids had been involved in some sort of childhood accident, we would all show up at the emergency room to offer support. We've spent countless hours in each other's homes for Superbowl parties, New Year's Eve shindigs, bible studies. We've served and continue to serve at church together. I can't even begin to recount the times and ways these people have actively been my family. My community. They have woven themselves into my tapestry so deeply, that I wouldn't be Kris without them. That's a pretty powerful weave my friends. And I'm grateful. So very grateful.
I will leave you with this. And I know you've read the same sentiment several times on this blog. Politicians come and go. Economy ebbs and flows. Issues du jour heat up and cool down. It's good to have opinions. We all have to stand for something don't we? Make sure that what you sink your time and energy into is worth it. I'm here to tell you, people are worth it. Build your relationships with time and intention and those relationships will repay you a hundred-fold. Show gratitude to the people in your life. Listen when they need to be heard. Hug when they need to be held. Show up when your presence is needed. I do not always meet the mark when it comes to doing these things. I see ways I could improve and am working on it.
I wish for all of you that you have a table to sit at that is filled with vibrant, engaged, precious people whom you've built your life around. What a gift! The best way to receive such a gift, is to go be that gift. So go, have a fabulous rest of the winter, because you know what? Spring is just around the corner! Go plant some relational seeds, so that your harvest will bless your table for many years to come. :)
Make it a great day!
photo by KP :)
(friends at table photo courtesy of www.tislstyle.com)
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