Wishing You Everyday Blessings

“When you arise in the morning, think of what a precious privilege it is to be alive -to breathe, to think, to enjoy, to love.” – Marcus Aurelius

Br. Fred, our preacher for many years at the little country church I attend, used to always tell us how he woke every morning thankful for a new day. Each new day we are given can hold blessings. Some exciting, perhaps unexpected, perhaps anticipated. Others can be ordinary. Perhaps something barely noticed or something taken for granted. Like the sunshine on this cold winter day coming in my office window to warm me while I’m sharing this post and pondering blessings of the everyday kind.

I sent out a newsletter last week and have been blessed by all the responses, many of them sending New Year’s wishes and prayers. Each is a touch of warmth for me. Some have told me how much they love my books and how they are looking forward to reading A Chance for Kallie Mae, due out in May. A few have even already pre-ordered it. What a special blessing for me.

In the Parting Shots, I put a list of Everyday Blessings. Things like padded pews, hummingbirds, blackberries heavy on the vines, old hymns, the smell of bread baking. That’s a delicious appetite enhancer that you could enjoy here in my house since I make sourdough bread at least once a week.

While my question for this newsletter was why you love reading, some of those who responded added to my everyday blessings list. I loved that. Here are few of them.

Sandi came up with some good ones.

I would add wet weather springs/cascades. AND gooey warm chocolate, that winter-time deep blue on a moonlit midnight, the part of a book that is so good that you need to lay it aside to delay gratification, the loveliness of the short time when dogwoods and redbuds, like pretty school girls vie for attention, the underbelly of a plump bird, the first bite of a crisp grilled cheese sandwich. I could go on and on…

Charlotte added:

Sweet corn picked from the garden, shucked and immediately cooked (Perfect with those tomatoes you mention.)

Family get-togethers that involve foods that’re what each contributor excels at making.

(She had more, but I’m saving the ones about furry friends for a post all their own.)

Mary G. sent these. I’d add being thankful for my faith and the freedom to practice it; that I have siblings, my husband/daughter, and good friends; and that authors like you produce safely clean books that we want to read (ones that don’t put us in need of a visit to the Confessional, or at the very least skipping a lot of pages…)

That last gave me the everyday blessing of a reason to smile.

Sue had some to add to my list too. Lunching with friends, doggie kisses and spending time with a good book.

I had another smile when I read Edward’s addition to the list. A brief hand wave to other drivers you meet on the road. 

Sometimes that is only a few lifted fingers off the steering wheel or a nod, but it’s still good to be ready to smile and acknowledge those we meet. One of those in my Parting Shots list was friendly nods between strangers going about their errands around town.

What would you add here for your everyday blessings? Perhaps some everyday blessing you have noted this very day?

Another of mine today would be the little skiff of snow that came in the night and sparkled in the sun at sunrise this morning when Frankie and I were taking our morning walk.

If you didn’t see my Ann’s News in your inbox, you may need to sign up again. A number of emails of people who had signed up previously were lost when I had to change my newsletter send out program. But here’s the link if you want to read my last news. You would still have time to join in the giveaway fun. A neat reader’s blanket and the winner’s choice of one of my books.