A Walk with Gratitude

I love the mountains. Seriously, I looooove the mountains. I also dream of rural-living.

But we live in Suburbia. And I can be an ungrateful brat sometimes.

In the peace and quiet of mid-morning... I have to stop here to note that it was mid-morning and still peaceful and quiet -- I enjoyed a wonderful walk. It was really a small challenge to myself, a walk/run, and my first since I had Covid about three weeks ago. There were some people about -- exercising, walking dogs, and a few landscapers getting ready to work -- but it was surprisingly placid. I was able to think, pray, ponder.

We live in a neighborhood where others of our family reside. For most of our life together, my husband, children, and I have lived in the same city as our relatives, but the Houston area is gigantic. In the past several years, we've all lived much closer, just minutes away from each other.  It makes life wonderfully fun and pleasant.

I've known a lot of immigrants in my lifetime. I grew up with them. More than twenty years ago, one of our family friends told me that it's not the place that counts, but the people. He was older, gruff, and not a man much given to sentiment. But he looked so sad when he told me that. I never forgot it and even incorporated it in one of my books. And of course he was right.

Now... would I have appreciated my grandparents settling somewhere with gentler weather than southeast Texas? Yes! But it was here I met my husband and so many wonderful friends. It's where our family is.

And our suburban community -- vast, yet supremely convenient and well-maintained. 

And I've made some very nice friends.

And I do have a garden. ​ And there are lots of green spaces.

We all have our needs and preferences. Some people truly need quiet and wide-open spaces to feel free. I understand that. Every once in a while, that's me. Or you might not have family close by, but you have friends you can count on. Perhaps you have a reunion to look forward to. Maybe you're in the country yearning for the city or in the mountains yearning for the sea. And sometimes you just don't feel well or happy or grateful at all.

We can't always help how we feel, but it's good to look for the good. 

In my heart, despite my semi-regular fussing, I am grateful.

Thanks be to God.