A Full and Blessed Day (10/18/2023)

Yesterday, I got up a little earlier than usual. It was going to be a big day, and I knew I’d need a little extra prayer time before it all began. I wanted to get my prayer time in and my blog written before I woke my husband to get ready for our adventure. We left home at 9 a.m. for our “Colors” drive. He was the driver, I was the “spotter.” We drove from Lake Mills to Dodgeville, then on to Prairie du Chein, then took the river road (Highway 35) north to La Crosse, then headed back home across 90 and then south through the center of the state. It was wonderful. We had a safe journey punctuated by beautiful sights and great conversation.

We got home in time to take a small break before our son arrived for a visit. That was great, catching up on his life and his family. We decided to go out for a small supper at the local family restaurant. I enjoyed watching him laboriously decide upon what he’d have (best deal for most food). Our conversation was lively as we waited for our food and as we ate. After the meal, I headed off to a gathering at church and my husband and son headed home for a movie.

The gathering was blessed as eight of us came together to share our journeys and to support one another. It was the beginning of a grief support group at our parish. We took time to pray, to share and to support one another. As I locked up the building and walked to my car, I spoke to the LORD out loud, “Thank you, LORD, for this time together.”

Yesterday was a full and blessed day. I didn’t discover a new continent or invent a new serum. The greatness was the accumulation of small blessings: time spent with loved ones, quiet time for reflection, time spent building relationships, time spent reaping the benefits of relationships. Time with the LORD last evening was full of gratitude, awe, and praise. I ended by saying the obvious, “Thank you, LORD. I needed that.”

Most of our lives are not headline worthy, but that doesn’t mean they aren’t exceptionally blessed. The eye of a disciple can glean the blessings present in the most ordinary of things. And as disciples, we are called to be people of praise and thanksgiving for the wonderment of life in our LORD, with our LORD, and through our LORD. And at the center of these wonderments will be the relationships we have with others: our family, our friends, those whom we encounter along the way. May we look for and find the footprint of our LORD on our moments.

Until tomorrow, let us all love well.