Simple Gifts

Last week I was run down, tired, and fighting a bug. Most of the week was spent trying to simply cope with the malaise I was feeling, keeping the family fed, the laundry caught up, teaching, and rehearsing folks at church. By Friday of last week, I was miserable, sick, and needed to stop. Trying to be a nurturing Mom wasn’t even in my thought process.

Today, feeling better with the help of the great drug Penicillin, I was breathing deeply of the fresh cool air, and finding inspiration in the sweetest of places. I finished up my deskwork about 2:30 this afternoon and looked longingly out the window at the glorious Fall weather. Marla would be dismissed from school at 3:00—I wished I could go for a walk, but there wasn’t enough time. Then the thought hit me that I could easily walk up to the school—it’s just a mile away, so I grabbed drink for Marla threw on some walking shoes and took off.

The day was refreshing—sunny, breezy, and mild. Marla was pleased to be picked up on foot and quickly took to the idea of walking home from school on a beautiful day. We walked and chatted, stopping every little bit to collect leaves, berries, and a few flowers. Along the way we saw a bitter melon vine with the most beautiful orange seedpods on it. There were still one or two pods that had yet to ripen, still green but swollen with seeds. One orange pod had begun to burst open and the seeds within were bright red. As we were walking I kept looking at our daughter’s smile. I was so grateful for the time with her—just 30 minutes of walking, laughing, and discovering, yet it was packed with bliss. I kept thinking that I need to look for more opportunities to simply enjoy her.















Once we turned onto our street it was time to skip (according to Marla), so we skipped the rest of the way home, and quickly began arranging the little treasures from our walk on the brick doorstep.
























Tonight my heart is grateful for so many things… this glorious day, a 30 minute walk with Marla, a surprise visit from Daniel and the treat of simply enjoying his company for an hour, and laughing with Sam tonight after putting Marla to bed. All gifts that I didn’t think I had time for today, and each incredibly sweet. Tomorrow will hold it’s gifts as well—I hope I might have eyes to see them too.