Small and Wonderful Things . . .

"The world is fairly studded and strewn with pennies cast broadside from a generous hand. But who gets excited by a mere penny?...It is dire poverty indeed when a man is so malnourished and fatigued that he won't stoop to pick up a penny. But if you cultivate a healthy poverty and simplicity, so that finding a penny will literally make your day, then, since the world is in fact planted with pennies, you have with your poverty bought a lifetime of days. It is that simple. what you see is what you get." ~Anne Dillard  

A few of the small and wonderful things which bring untold joy into my life.   It's the small things in life which truly mean the most.  Simple abundance . . . it's the best.    

The buying and wearing of a Poppy.  It is a small thing to do, but with a huge significance.   I will be eternally grateful for the sacrifice which was made by so many in order to protect the many freedoms which we tend to take for granted each day of our lives.  We tend only to think in terms of our soldiers which were killed protecting our countries, but the sacrifice was and is so much more than that.   During the first world war some villages and town lost all of their young men as they tended to join up en masse and serve in the field as a group.   Mother's lost sons.   Wives lost husbands.  Children lost fathers.   Their loss was also a sacrifice.  We must never forget the price which was paid for the freedoms we all enjoy today, and the price which continues to be paid even now, as our soldiers and young men continue to serve their countries in foreign lands and conflicts.



Autumn hikes.  I just love this photo of Maryn and Cameron enjoying an autumn walk together.   I think they will be the best of friends throughout their lives.



Photographs like these tweak my heart in such a special way.  I cannot play with or hold my grandchildren.  I live too far away and strained relationships mean that I will probably never ever be able to enjoy a close relationship with these two.  So I am delighted when I see a new photograph of them.   I cherish every scrap of info about them which comes my way.  I hopeand pray daily that one day things will be different.

Forgiveness.  It is at the root of the Christian walk and fundamental to our faith.  We are taught again and again that we must be willing to forgive and yet so many do not.  I have had to learn to forgive many things in my lifetime.   I have learned that to hold on to hurt is to empower my enemies.  I have learned that if I want to be forgiven, I must forgive. And so I do.   Forgiving doesn't mean that you forget.  It just means that you put whatever it is in the past and keep it there.  We will probably never be able to forget the hurts, but we certainly have it in our power to get past them.



Being able to relax by the warmth of a wood fire.   The snaps and crackles of the logs . . .  the smell . . . watching flames flickering and dancing behind the glass.  It is a small thing, but it is a wonderful thing.  I miss my wood fire.  Baxter is certainly enjoying this one.  It makes me smile to see him sleeping there so comfortably. 

"Whatever our souls are made of, his and mine are the same." ~ Emily Bronte 

Having someone to hold hands with.  It means that I am not alone.  My life is shared by someone who wants to hold my hand.  I am content.

 

Cooking in The English Kitchen today  . . .  a delicious casserole composed of leftovers.  Monday Night Supper.

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Have a fabulous Monday! May the week ahead be filled to overflowing with small and wonderful things!