I’m unloading the dishwasher while the Sugar Plum writes a story and the Mole does impromptu ballet to a Fernando Ortega song we’re listening to. The Cucumber is in his bouncy seat, very intent on connecting his hand with a dangling toy. It is a cold day but the sunshine is pouring into our dining room through the poorly insulated windows that I love. It suddenly hits me how very blessed I am. I can be content in this moment. The day isn’t perfect (what day is?) but it can be enough if I chose to see it that way. The house needs cleaned and there are horrific pockets of clutter. I’m behind on countless projects. I won’t even think about the outdoors! Mr. Oddly Genius is away 7am-9pm today, the first day of his last semester. I know all of the children will get needy come evening and no doubt the Cucumber will manage to drift into cat-napping at some point during the day. Discipline will be required. But none of this is immediate and it is easy to take a mental snapshot and say, “In this moment I can appreciate that my life is full and fabulous.” I want to remember this, I want to hold on to the truth when circumstances tempt me to discontent and anger.

I haven’t read Ann Voskamp’s One Thousand Gifts but I’ve been reading some blog posts from people who are writing about the book and it has inspired me to practice contentment, even thankfulness. I may be adding the book to my already lengthy reading list (though I have a problem with letting books not on the list cut in line) some time! Feel free to share in the comments if you are or have read the book or if there is a blog about the book that I should be following. Thanks!

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