The Age of Autumn

Daily Gratitude Year 14-Day 230: Today, I am grateful for the age of autumn. 

"At this age, I remind myself of a tree in autumn. More colorful than I used to be, a bit creaky, losing bits and pieces all the time, holding on through the storms, but could topple over at any time."

There is much truth in this little observation of growing older. It probably applies at forty, fifty, and sixty as much as it does at seventy. There is something wonderful about reaching an age where "more colorful" is a compliment and accepting that things get lost, misplaced, or we simply can't remember where we put them. I have been using the "red button" car finder in the Walmart and Kroger parking lot since my thirties. Have you? 

It is funny how we make adjustments. Instead of using the "car finder," it is easier to park in the same general spot. Being consistent with "one spot" for things that get lost often helps, as does the "Find my Phone" app when necessary. 

"Holding on through the storms" sometimes changes from a sense of hope into a stubborn determination against the forces of nature that arrives with maturity. 

"For everything there is a season, a time for every activity under heaven." -Ecclesiastes 3:1

Whatever season of life you are currently experiencing, embrace it. Look for the "autumn" aspects in every season. Embrace it. Seize the good, the beautiful, and the fierce aspects of each day. 

Today, I am grateful for the age of autumn. 

Two Grams of Protein

 

Daily Gratitude Year 14-Day 299: Today, I am grateful for 2 grams of protein. 

"I don't know who needs to hear this... but a Reese's Pumpkin has 2 grams of protein."

This week, many will choose to eat the Reese's. If you know you know. I am a dark chocolate girl all the way, but the original Reese's Peanut Butter Cup is a classic. I know two grams of protein does not justify the sugar, but it made me smile. 

A standard Reese's Peanut Butter Cup contains approximately 2 grams of protein. In a serving of two cups, the protein content increases to about 4 grams. Easy math and an easy decision. (The same is true from Trader Joe's dark chocolate mini peanut butter cups. 4 grams in a serving and they are my absolute favorite.)

Candy is everywhere this week. It is the start of the season of sweet treats. It is so hard to be good. There is wisdom in moderation. 

“Eat honey, my son, for it is good; honey from the comb is sweet to your taste. Know also that wisdom is like honey for you: If you find it, there is a future hope for you, and your hope will not be cut off.” – Proverbs 24:13-14

Today, I am grateful for 2 grams of protein. 

Peace and Contentment

 

Daily Gratitude Year 14-Day 298: Today, I am grateful for peace and contentment. 

October has thirty-one days, but it still seems to slip by like a whisper in the wind. You wake up one morning and it is suddenly time to turn the calendar to November. I am going to squeeze every ounce of goodness out of October in this last week. 

"There's just something about October that makes my soul feel content and my heart feel at peace." 

October's cooler temperatures work her magic on the trees. Soups come back out as a regular meal choice. Full disclosure... It is always chili season in the Smith House. 

Chili always makes me think of my brother-in-love, Monte. Chili was always a dinner option, any time of year. Monte served it up in Indiana and in Florida, no matter the weather. Sister-in-Love Jan is a great cook, but Monte enjoyed it, too. Especially when it was one of his favorite things. It is one of those things Randy and I agreed upon without even thinking about it when we married. 

There is a sense of peace and contentment that accompanies this time of year, if we allow margins in our schedules. The harvest is still going full throttle, but on Sundays and when the harvest is complete, life takes a different pace that last for a couple of weeks before the holidays kick into high gear. Savor any slow, peaceful, and content moments when you can. In fact, schedule them. Block out time for the things that make you feel peaceful and content. 

"Consider the ravens: They do not sow or reap, they have no storeroom or barn; yet God feeds them. And how much more valuable you are than birds!"-Luke 12:24

Savor the sweet contentment in knowing our God provides for the birds and for us. 

Today, I am grateful for peace and contentment. 

A World With Octobers

 

Daily Gratitude Year 14-Day 297: Today, I am grateful for a world with Octobers. 

I love this quote:

"I'm so glad I live in a world where there are Octobers. It would be terrible if we just skipped from September to November, wouldn't it? Anne Shirley, Anne of Green Gables

Autumn is glorious! The cool mornings and nights compliment the sun-filled days. The dying leaves become more vibrant before they let go and die to replenish the soil where they land. Oh, it is truly magnificent to live in a world with Octobers. 

It is almost as if the leaves have been soaking in the summer sun just waiting to give it all back in the fall, like a farewell gift before they are gone. It is truly a show I would hate to miss if I lived in a place without fall.  

“There is a time for everything, and a season for every activity under the heavens.” – Ecclesiastes 3:1

 Today, I am grateful for a world with Octobers. 

Burden Sharing

 

Daily Gratitude Year 14-Day 296: Today, I am grateful for burden sharing. 

Sometimes things are just too heavy to carry alone. I am always grateful for the people who step in to help shoulder the load. Our burdens can be physical or emotional. Both are eased when shared. 

We were designed for relationships. We can do hard things, but it is such an encouragement to face tough stuff with a partner, a cheerleader, and a friend. Together we are better. 

"Share each other’s burdens, and in this way obey the law of Christ." -Galatians 6:2

Today, I am grateful for burden sharing. 

Humor

Daily Gratitude Year 14-Day 295: Today, I am grateful for humor. 

"Every time you find some humor in a difficult situation, you win." 

Humor can be a great diffuser in times of tension. It must be respectful. Done well, it can be powerful. Humor helps us reframe things that do not make sense. Other times, it helps us laugh at ourselves. There are times it can help us see more clearly, too. 

A little wit can save the day. A little laughter can get endorphins pumping. Finding humor in hard times is a win. Helping others find a little relief through humor can be a random act of kindness. 

"Everyone enjoys a fitting reply; it is wonderful to say the right thing at the right time!" -Proverbs 15:23

Look for the things that make you laugh. Animal memes with human observations always make me laugh. The internet is full of them. Life is pretty absurd at times; finding humor is not hard if we are intentional. 

Today, I am grateful for humor. 

Sanity Pause

 

Daily Gratitude Year 14-Day 294: Today, I am grateful for the reminder to take a sanity pause. 

Do you ever want to stop and shout, "Stop the insanity!" Kurt Vonnegut once said, “A sane person to an insane society must appear insane.” I've liked the quote since high school, and it rings with clarity at this moment in time.  

"I was told technology would eliminate unnecessary work. Instead, I now have sixty passwords, thirteen verification codes, and a robot asking if I'm a robot."

I am not sure we have ever lived in a time when technology has developed so quickly. I remember learning that the first computers filled rooms and now we carry them in our pockets and on our wrists. 

We are living with tools and toys that were science fiction in the recent past. Yet, no one seems to have more time. It does seem a little crazy, doesn't it? 

Sometimes we need a sanity pause. Part of that pause is remembering who God is. Confidence in who He is allows us to relax, even when things seem a bit crazy around us. 

Psalm 46:10 says, “Be still, and know that I am God. I will be honored by every nation. I will be honored throughout the world.”

The first part of that verse is comforting; the second half is commanding. When the world feels like "too much" we can trust His heart and hand. 

Today, I am grateful for the reminder to take a sanity pause.