Counting (and Washing) My Blessings

I confess, I take things for granted. I try to be thoughtful and grateful in all things, but there are just so many things that are pebbles in the path that I walk on day to day, that receive none of my attention, appreciation, or acknowledgement. That is, until they break. For example, imagine a dishwasher that stops working right before Thanksgiving, with a sink-to-ceiling pile of dishes waiting for its automated care. What do you do? Let me guess… You stop and suddenly recognize the sheltered life you were living, and how fortunate you are to have an amazing modern marvel of innovation available at your fingertips. You are overwhelmed with gratitude for having that normally available to you. Well, not me. I threw a fit. I recall having a very animated conversation with the suddenly broken dishwasher about how inconsiderate it was to us. I’m pretty sure my five-year-old self came out to tantrum and pout.

I’m spoiled rotten. I admit it. I’m surrounded by incredible technological scaffolding that supports my ever whim, with even more innovations appearing every year. Yet, in all its helpful splendor, I have lost the wonder and deep appreciation of its magic. We take it for granted. We transfer our weight into its hands and expect it to carry us without so much as a polite recognition of the burden it bears. Sadly, it’s not until something breaks that we truly see its criticality and impact on our lives.

This past week, as I stood at the sink with my kids dutifully washing and drying dishes, it hit me. We are so blessed. We have so much to be thankful for and to appreciate. As the aroma of turkey, gravy and pies hung thick in the air, my mind suddenly connected to all my circumstances. I was surrounded by my family. Some had engaged to gather dishes, some to wash, and some to dry. I took a deep breath and let that moment soak into my soul.

Outside, the wind was blowing colorful autumn leaves across the yard. We were sheltered from the cold, and my daughters laughed as they juggled the pile of dishes. I grinned. What a joy it is to be alive and with the ones you love! Our table was full. I glanced at our digital memory frame, projecting photos of loved ones who are no longer with us. They smiled at us, bringing gifts of memories and celebrations from times gone by. I breathed out a prayer of thanks and took the drying cloth to the heirloom gravy boat. I paid special attention to the detail of the old vessel. Oddly, for years I had given it no attention, but this year it had my focus, at least for this drying moment. I gave a sigh of thanks.

We are surrounded and attended by so many good things. People, tools, and traditions. They carry us along life’s journey. This past week was another reminder to me not to take them for granted. Appreciate every moment. Respect and acknowledge their importance in everyday life. Say thank you. Be thankful. I was reminded yet again of my many blessings… even if I had forgotten to count them.

As we move into this busy season, I hope we’ll all remember to notice and appreciate the little things, and each other, along the way.

And yes, thankfully, the dishwasher did get replaced… and used… a lot.

Happy Thanksgiving!