Blessed

I spoke with Elizabeth for about an hour yesterday evening.  It is not rare that we talk during the day, but it is rare for those conversations to last longer than 5-10 minutes now that she is working full-time.

During the conversation we were talking about how blessed our family has been.  We have always had our needs met (and most of our wants), we laugh together a LOT, we haven't had any life-altering diseases or accidents--in fact the only broken bone I can recall any of us having was a year or so ago when she broke her pinky finger while running in basic training--and we are all doing pretty much exactly what we want to do with our lives.

As I listed off several of the things I was grateful for about our family, I realized how truly wonderful my life has been, despite the loss of my mother at an early age.  My sisters were both there for me at crucial times in my life, I've had a best friend off and on throughout my years, and am married the man of my dreams--a guy who still, after 32 years of marriage holds my hand when we walk together in public and treats me as his most treasured possession.  Happy does not even begin to describe how that makes me feel!

My time here "roughin' it at the Marriott" has given me time to relax and put aside all the busy thoughts and actions of my regular life, and reflect on what a truly wonderful existence I have. It isn't something that can be bought, nor does it depend on circumstances to feel it.  The joy in my heart is because the Author of joy resides inside.  It is He who gives me the ability to look at life through the lens of peace and love, even when it would be easy to feel hurt or angry. And THAT is the greatest blessing of all.