Someone wise once said: “It’s best to pay attention to the small things in life. Because one day, you may look back and discover that the big things in life were actually the small things.”
With that in mind, I’d like to consider the ‘small things’ in life for which I am thankful.
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I am thankful for the taste of fresh, homemade caramel.
I am thankful for the delicious sound of my children’s laughter when they are tickled.
I am thankful for the sound of rich, congregational singing at a funeral.
I am thankful for the sudden chill you feel when you approach a mountain spring in the summertime.
I am thankful when others say thank you.
I am thankful for the sound of a steady rain on a tin roof.
I am thankful for a good, pun-filled joke that catches me off guard.
I am thankful for the way a new book smells when you open its pages.
I am thankful for clean sheets after a hot shower.
I am thankful for clergy friends who understand the blessings and challenges of our calling.
I am thankful for our tradition of watching 'Rick Steve’s European Christmas' DVD while we decorate our tree.
I am thankful for the feeling of satisfaction after returning home from a successful family trip.
I am thankful for works of fiction that distract me from the realities of daily life.
I am thankful for the smell of the century-old barn on our family’s land in Yancey County.
I am thankful for gluten free pastries.
I am thankful for the way my children unconsciously swat at my kisses when I check on them before I turn in for the night.
I am thankful for fast, reliable WIFI when I travel.
I am thankful for that moment when rain turns into snow.
I am thankful for the beautiful geometry and precision of the game of baseball.
I am thankful for the sound of my wife’s voice when she sings hymns.
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Paul tells us to be thankful in all things. This Thanksgiving, don’t forget the small things.
Of course, we know the truth of the matter. Life is made up of small things.