Monday Musings: My Greatest Blessing

I received one of my greatest blessings 18 years ago today.

It was an incomparable gift. It was also one I thought I'd never have. But, because I did receive that gift, I can tell you there are still miracles performed in our behalf. I don't often speak of my belief in God on my blog. It's not the focus of my blog although it is very much part of my life. I do firmly believe that there is a loving heavenly father that hears the groanings of our heart and is not unmoved by our joys, pain or sorrow.

Just as we enjoy giving gifts to those we love or giving comfort those we love when they feel pain—they matter to us—so does our heavenly father.  We matter to him and he sees us as individuals—some of which he calls friend, all of which he has love and affection for. My gift is evidence of his love for me. While I have received many gifts and blessings from him, my son is the greatest personal gift he has given me.

Today was a day of reflection and yes, thanksgiving. I remember counting fingers and toes, the first night home and the realization that this little tiny human wasn't going home with anyone else. He was all mine. I have to tell you, there was a moment of panic when I realized that. The sense of responsibility that settled on my shoulders, coupled with the intense love I felt, and the plethora of what ifs that plagued me. But, it was only momentary because I got on with day-to-day living. 

For all the joy and satisfaction my gift has given me, I have to say that there is a measure of sadness today. My bundle of joy (sometimes my major pain in the butt) is now a young man of 18 and soon to go out on his own. It will leave a bit of a hole in my life. It's not a bad thing but I do miss the little boy he was and all the firsts that came with him. Time has flown by, as it is wont to do, and I'm remembering all the firsts. The pride I felt watching his first wobbling steps.

Soon I'll be watching his first steps away from home as he picks up his responsibilities in the Navy.

My son, when I look at you I realize that truly,

"Every good gift and every perfect present is from above, for it comes down from the Father..." James 1:17

  

It's The Simple Things

When I was a child a lesson learned at my mother’s knee was always celebrate what we have TODAY. Each day has it’s own tribulations and worries but if we have everything we need, not necessarily want, but need for this day then be content.

It was a good lesson to learn so young. We were a family of eleven and while my father was a hard worker and had a good paying job in the trades there were times things got very lean and tight—especially in the winter. As a wise man once said, I have had plenty and I have learned to go without. We always had food, clothing, and a roof over our head, a warm house—all things we needed. And we had blessings, faith, plenty of love, friends, and our family. It was the blessings, you see, which made life rich. With a life rich in blessings we can face whatever hardships come our way. Without the blessings, all the “things” we could have would mean nothing.

For me, this is the time of year to reflect on what’s really important. In my opinion, it’s my blessings. Who ever said that we had to go broke to make a big splash for the holidays? And since when is love linked with expensive things? Things are always easy to acquire but does the expensive gifts actually show the person giving it loves you, or that you’re special?

Personally, I don’t like someone giving me a gift because tradition demands it and everyone is doing it. (Do you remember what Mom used to say about *everyone* when you would say, ‘but everyone else is doing it’!) I’d rather know that I’d still get that gift regardless of the time of year. In our family it’s tradition to give special gifts all year long. Taking the time to think of something that would really be special and please the recipient. This ties into another lesson I took to heart from my mother.

There is more happiness in giving than receiving.

Giving a gift is a two way street. The joy we feel when we see someone’s face light up with delight at our gift. Gifts that come from the heart have so much more value. Some of my most treasured gifts are things I received for no reason except I was loved and thought of or those made just for me.

This time of the year I count my greatest blessings. What’s REALLY important to me and that is my faith, my family, my friends, loving and being loved. I give thanks for those things I have today, being relatively healthy, having a roof over my head, clothes, the bills paid, food in the cupboards, and a warm house.

I give thanks for the simple special things, which live forever in my memories:

Like sharing popcorn and watching a movie together, or laughing over a game we’re playing, the snowball fight we got into while clearing the snow and the snow angels we made. Watching my horses and dogs playing in the first snowfall. My outside cats shase the snowflakes. Filling my birdfeeders and watching all the different birds that flock to it and gossip over their food and I laugh when my cats are enthralled by their antics from the inside windows. My cats curled up in my office as I work and the dogs at my feet, and music playing on the computer. Having my son sit on my office couch and read while I write, or chat about anything and everything.

The snatch of a carol, the wonder of seeing holiday lights on the town streets, the festive glitter of houses dressed in their December best. The crystal shards of the stars on a cold clear night and the chorus of the coyotes not far away, the naked limbs of the winter trees turned silver by the moonlight. The smell of wood smoke in the air.

Coming in my driveway and seeing the warm glow of lights, a couple of cats in the window seat watching the night. Knowing inside is home.

I’m so rich in my blessings. My blessings make everything I do have so much sweeter.

Really, it’s the simple things that have the most value, don't you think?

• Speaking of gifts. This week and next I will be sharing holiday short stories by authors both published and not. I have some lovely stories to share. I hope you enjoy them as much as I enjoyed gathering them together. I will share the first one tomorrow. Please stop by and have a look.