I am blessed.
 

I know, in this age of social media and shallow hashtags, that the word blessed has taken on some negative connotations recently, but I am reclaiming its beautiful, sacred applicability to my life.

I am blessed in more ways than I can count – let me #humblebrag to you now.

My close friends and family are healthy, which perhaps a year ago would not have been at the top of my list. My husband and I still have our jobs and can mostly work at home together. We do not have tiny humans running amok in our home so it is a quiet sanctuary. We have disposable income and are still able to order weekly take out at (some of) our favorite restaurants. I hear the birds singing more often and Spring is beautiful – we’re going for a walk soon.

I’m practicing “focusing on the things I can change”, and unplugging from the news more often. I’m developing new hobbies (learn embroidery on YouTube?! Yes please!) and new skills (the hedge trimmers have been conquered).

I miss my grandparents, but I know keeping away from them is the best thing I can do right now. I miss my book club, the art museum, and going to the movies. I miss double dates and potlucks and birthday parties. I’m sad that my graduate school commencement and vacations have been canceled. I’m bummed that Kroger has become my most exciting outing.

But I am safe, and healthy, and my greatest dilemmas today are when to plant the purple hyacinth seeds, and which shade of blue to paint the new front door. Feeling grateful for the little things has given me strength in the looong, boring same old same old days of the quarantine shutdown.

Let’s count our blessings today.

Matthew 5:9  Blessed are the peacemakers, for they shall be called children of God.