Advent Attitude? Gratitude!

I try to remember every morning -- when I sit up in bed and plant my feet on the floor -- to begin the day with a litany of gratitude. It was easy today. I thanked God for central heating (It's really cold this morning.) and for giving gifts to the inventors who've make our modern life so comfortable. 

I come downstairs and turn on the lights, turn up the thermostat from 61 to 69, fill my drip coffee machine and push a button to have a steaming cup in five minutes. Thank you, Lord, for coffee and early morning quiet. And how can I forget the wonderful outing Larry and I had yesterday on our "Gone for the Day" adventure? We meandered on a country road never travelled before that took us up, up, up North Mountain with an unbelievably gorgeous view looking back at Woodstock from the top. And how we love seeing the bare bones of the trees reaching up to heaven as if to give their own prayer of gratitude to their Maker.

We enjoyed a lovely lunch in Wardensville, served by a cheerful waitress named Brittany. Her smile mirrored all the beautiful decorations including a crocheted Christmas tree skirt that I photographed to show my crocheting daughter and granddaughters. I would love a crocheted poinsettia to hang on my tree.

As I sit her at my desk in the office, I see the little birds coming to the bird feeder again. We haven't had birds there for over a month. The feeders are still half full from the day Larry put them out about six weeks ago. But a little chickadee is flitting back and forth and a second just joined her on the branches of the apple tree. Welcome back, little chickadees. Thank you, Lord, for all your precious birdies. Yesterday on our meanderings we saw a beautiful red-tailed hawk flying. What a thrill for the heart.

The sun just burst from behind a cloud turning the frost on the lawn into a field of sparkling diamonds. Another thank you! 

But best of all, we got word last night of an answer to prayer for a difficult situation. Can any blessing be greater than that?

"Shout, O Israel: be glad, and rejoice with all thy heart." [Zephaniah 3:14] That is the message of Advent. And what partners with joy more than gratitude? 

Thank you, Lord, for all your gifts. May I remember this day to give thanks for every minute with its abundant blessings: for the food on the table and the Christmas decorations, for the star that I plan to hang from our porch roof and the nativity scene we'll set up in the yard. I even want to thank you for the sorrows that make the joys shine even more brightly. They too offer opportunities and blessings: to grow in humility, perseverance, and patience. How can we grow in virtue without challenges that call them forth?

May you have a day filled with blessings poured into your lap and overflowing.

Come, Lord Jesus, come!