50 Days of Gratitude: Day 50

I’ve recently been drawn/called/pulled to put down roots. I’ve never lived in one place for a very long time. Ever. Let’s call the roll: Pekin, IL-Nuremberg, Germany-Long Branch, NJ- Red Bank, NJ-Pekin, IL (x 4 houses)-Crawfordsville, IN-Sulligent, AL (x 2 houses) (for those keeping score, I’m twelve years old now)-Tuscaloosa, AL(college- Roll Tide!) -Huntsville, AL (x 4 houses)-Nashville, TN (x 2 houses)-Scottsboro, AL (x 3 houses)-Lancaster, OH (x 2 houses)-Upper Sandusky, OH-Seattle, WA (x4 houses)-Columbus, OH, and now tbd in the Pacific Northwest, but close enough to easily get to snuggles with our sweet grand-girl.

I long for a place where we can say “this is home.” Of course, I have that place, in the ways that matter. In the ways that mean I am loved unconditionally when I’m there. And that, dearest ones, is everything.

Along the way, I’ve been profoundly blessed (and I mean this in the truest sense) by the most amazing people. People who have made me laugh and cry and grow and grateful. But it’s more than that. This is what I’ve realized of late: these very people – you, most likely – who have meant so much to me – you have changed more than just my life. You have changed the world. With the very gift of exactly who you are. Not what you’ve done or left undone. Not what you bring or leave behind. Not because of anything that you’ve accomplished. Not because of what people say you are. But only and always and exactly because you are you.

If I’d not moved to that long list of places I would never have known you and what a loss that would have been for me. That’s what I’m grateful for on this 50th and final day of my annual Eastertide gratitude practice. I’m grateful that you are here. The world needs you. The One who created you loves you. And so do I. Thank you.

This was our back porch at the "Magic Farmhouse" in Seattle, where we lived from 2016-2020. We are definitely porch people!