Gratitude

Gun’s Quote-of-the-Week:

“Joy is the simplest form of gratitude.”

-Karl Barth

I’m sitting at a computer on a desk piled-high in paperwork, boxes, several pens that don’t work, old CDs, an iPad, a broken label-maker and brand-new HD monitors. Behind me sits a brother, sister-in-law, two nephews, a mom and a dog. My niece is already asleep in the bedroom upstairs.

We are sitting around and talking about upcoming holidays, birthdays and trips. We are planning our weeks, who is going to be where when and who is getting off work early. Then Jo starts breaking out ridiculous jokes from Buzzfeed. They’re actually funny.

My parents retired in March. I quit my job, too, and started a new one. Mom and Dad have been busily cleaning out the house and (mostly) the garage in preparation for its sale. Their new house is under construction now. We shopped for appliances for it this weekend.

My roommates moved out when the young family that now lives with me moved in. The twins were born a few weeks after Jo and Erik moved in. I’ve watched two twin boys grow from tiny little infants to… well, I guess bigger infants. Gloria, my 18-month-old niece says “Hi!” with a big smile every time she sees me, and Peter’s (the dog) tail wags wildly when I walk in the door after a day of work. My other brother and his wife have moved in to their new home this year as well.

It has been a time of tremendous transition for my family. Not all of it has gone smoothly.

I’m very bad about being gracious. I whine when I look at the piles of paperwork that have gone unfiled because my computer has been down for almost a month. I whine about not having a computer for a month. Cleaning gutters sucks, but trying to keep the house clean is an exercise in futility. You don’t have six people (seven when mom stays to help with the twins) living under one roof and have a clean house. It just doesn’t work like that with three kids under 18 months old.

I wouldn’t have it any other way.

Our lives will continue to transition from one phase to the next. People will be born and people will die. There will be new jobs, new houses, new places to go and new things to see. This week presents us with a real opportunity to express joy in all of life’s various ebbs and flows. Take that opportunity. Be joyful. Smile. Give thanks. The last year has been filled with many good things and many bad things. Be thankful for both. Take real time to really reflect on your life and find gratitude in all of it. Express that gratitude with joy by spending quality time with your friends and loved ones.

Be gracious. Be joyful. Smile. Give thanks.

Happy Thanksgiving.

…And that’s why it’s a Gun’s Quote!!