Blessed

The pastor read these words as a prayer to the young ones among us, starting anew in the newness of fall.

The Summer Day

by Mary Oliver

Who made the world?

Who made the swan, and the black bear?

Who made the grasshopper?

This grasshopper, I mean-

the one who has flung herself out of the grass,

the one who is eating sugar out of my hand,

who is moving her jaws back and forth instead of up and down-

who is gazing around with her enormous and complicated eyes.

Now she lifts her pale forearms and thoroughly washes her face.

Now she snaps her wings open, and floats away.

I don't know exactly what a prayer is.

I do know how to pay attention, how to fall down

into the grass, how to kneel down in the grass,

how to be idle and blessed, how to stroll through the fields,

which is what I have been doing all day.

Tell me, what else should I have done?

Doesn't everything die at last, and too soon?

Tell me, what is it you plan to do

with your one wild and precious life?

I am feeling particularly blessed lately.  I have been filled with the fullness of life, even amidst the trials that come with a family of five, with five differing, strong outlooks on every situation.

Recently we were offered a friend's farm share from a wonderful CSA.  We were blessed with the abundance of amazing food and generosity.  This season emphasizes the richness of life!

Most days, there is at least a moment when I come upon all three of my children enjoying each other sincerely, and the peace of it fills me up.  These things alone are enough, but there seems to be more and more abundance, more blessings that keep coming our way.

Lately, I keep hearing the girls say "I want this day to start all over again!"  You might think this means it's not going well, and they want a fresh start.  Actually, what they mean is that the day has been so great, they want it all to happen again!

These are good days.

This is a good life.