Just Like I Am

I woke up early this morning with an overwhelming attitude of gratitude.  I think that I woke up feeling renewed because God gave me a glorious day of sunshine and warmth yesterday so I could go outside and talk to my relatives at a socially acceptable distance.  I sat in the connecting back yard with my aunt, uncle, and cousins, each of us respectful of the distance we need to keep from each other.  The conversation was refreshingly "normal" in these abnormal times.  I couldn't help but think how lucky I am to have an extended family who loves me just like I am.

I am grateful for my daughters who love me enough to stay away from me since they are essential workers.  Each day, a couple of times a day, we face time to keep in touch.  It's not the same as hugging them but it's the best we have right now.  My youngest daughter and her wife buy me groceries every week so I don't have to go out to the grocery stores.  I stay 6 feet away while they bring my groceries into my house and put them away.  I am so grateful of the young women they have grown up to be and I'm so blessed that they love me just as I am.

I am grateful for my brother and his family.  They are always checking on me to see how I'm doing and if I need anything.  On Easter, my sister-in-law cooked dinner and we all ate outside keeping our distance.  I was more then grateful because it was a little cold outside and the weather threatened rain but they chose to eat in "uncomfortable" weather just so they could have the holiday with me.  The whole situation brought tears to my eyes when I got home because they didn't have to do that - they wanted to do that.  I am so grateful because they love me just as I am.  

I woke up grateful that I have two Doberman Pinschers who think I'm the best thing since sliced bread.  Each morning they greet me with tails wagging and precious kisses.  My male Dobie likes to press his head (which has some weight to it) against my leg letting me know he is there and happy to see me; my female nudges my hand with her head to make me pet her.  Maybe they like me so much in the morning because I feed them, but I like to think they love me just like I am.

I am grateful for friends who want to "Zoom" with me weekly just so we can stay in touch.  We live in different states and we were all suppose to meet up at the end of April to have some fun and fellowship in Colorado but the Covid-19 virus stopped that so we all talk on Zoom every week.  Each of us has our own cheese, crackers and wine and we share the moment with each other.  It still amazes me that I have people in my life who are not related yet still love me just like I am.

These are but a few things I am grateful for but mostly I am grateful for God who gives me life each day.  I am grateful that at this moment I am happy and healthy.  I am grateful that my children, my immediate family and my extended family are healthy and free from Covid-19 symptoms.  I am grateful for the air that I breathe and the yellow flowers that are growing in my yard.  I am grateful for the trees that are outside of my window and the birds that serenade me each morning.  All these things are given to me from God but no gift is more precious than the fact that He loves me just like I am.