Reflecting on Blessings

   Just been working on finishing up the thank-you cards from graduation, makes you reflect on the blessings in life God's given you.

   Things like having a grandma who told me stories time without end, who'd take me fishing, or to visit the library where she worked, who let me tag along whenever she had to go to the feed store or grocery shopping, who sympathized with the small problems I had, or write a nice card when I broke my toe when I was eleven. Who taught me how to care for others when her cancer got too much to fight.

  For her mother, my great grandma, who I've gotten to know a lot better in the seven years since Mimi died. Nano's faced her aging well, dealt with the frailties and sadness that comes with aging bravely. Lived her ninety years pretty much working to get by and make life a better place for others, trusting God for the needs that come up. Retelling stories of growing up in the late stages of the Depression, entertaining us for hours as we listen to tales of dating just before World War II, or sewing a sail for a boat with her sister-in-law, or the times around the house, or listening to her take on modern topics such as President Obama and various Senators and Congressmen, or why men these days don't seem to like brown-haired girls any more.

   For the times spent with her husband, Dado, fishing, or working in the garden, shucking ears of speckled corn, riding the horses. The times I got to drive the truck, playing chess, or listening to war stories that I couldn't understand and thought were somewhat boring. The dry humor he had, and the wisdom contained in it.

   Being able to get in the practice of keeping up the house when I was five and both Mom and Dad caught pnemonia during the Olympics, or the times Mom was on bedrest. For my parents, doing their best to raise us all in the right way, the things I've learned, the fun memories, like throwing a baseball in the backyard, or going to Drillers games, the Fourth of July fireworks battles, learning basic addition and subtraction while playing Monopoly, for teaching the love of animals, board games, camp, reading, well-told stories, critical thinking, and saving money.

    Neighbors to play ball with, or shout encouragement, or offering use of their storm shelter when tornadoes came. Dogs, of all breeds and sizes and temperaments. Cats, each with their won distinct personalities. Horses, for teaching respect. Guinea pigs, for listening when I had a problem. Goats and chickens, for being so strange and hilarious.

   For good music, old CDs that have been passed down, full of good melodies, good lyrics, and very nice guitar work. For an old guitar that was given to you as payment for cleaning up an ice storm's mayhem.

   That you can have a church where people look to grow in Christ, figure out how best to serve Him, and show others the way to keep growing. That your pastor and his wife send a wonderfully thoughtful card on your graduation, that everybody pitched in when we needed some help with several big problems.

   For sports, and the ability to freak out about big plays and close finishes, as well as being able to spin tales out of the action on the ball field.

   For things unplanned like house fires, that you learn so much from.

   That there's temporary frustrations that lead to better things later on, like getting braces as you head off to college, or the dad of a girl you liked chewing you out.

   For the fact that there's friends to call up if you need to talk over a problem, or just want to hang out, the wackiness of conversations starting firmly rooted in reality and then spreading to munching dog food or fighting zombies. That you can email pals in Springfield or St. Louis for some advice and new perspective, or holler at your family in Wichita to debate the latest in American Idol, trends in food, or children's books.

   And most of all, that God is directing which way we're going, and that He'll see us through whatever we need to go through.

   (This probably makes no sense and has a readability level of near zero, but it's just some of the stuff I've been thinking about over the last couple days.)