It is the Season of Giving and the Season of Being Grateful.
Many years ago a friend shared what she calls her GRATITUDE ALPHABET. This has become an everyday practice for me that I recite as I walk my requisite mile each morning. It often changes each day as something or someone will come to mind or touch my heart. I keep in mind the saying "What if you awoke tomorrow with only those things you THANKED GOD for today". I thought I would share my 'A' for today.
I am thankful for ART
Art surrounds me and makes me feel alive. I see the Lord's hand at work through those gifted with the ability to create and capture the beauty that is everywhere. Without these amazing Artists we may forget that which we saw only fleetingly or never saw at all except through their eyes.
Through the years, I admit I have collected a few works of art through purchase, gifting and even a few pieces willed to me by the artist herself.
I have Framed Art -
photos taken by my incredible cousin, Gina Cormier, an Award Winning Professional Photographer
As well as a great collection of silkscreen prints,
and a memorable charcoal caricature drawing of my parents' home in Phoenix from the late 70's.
I admit there are quite a few pieces of Pottery in my home and garden including this RAKU piece from a local Clay Artist I admire -
And . . .
I have many other works of art including prose and poetry by well and not so well known artists.
Books old and new grace the shelves. I treasure my 1899 copy of the complete works of William Shakespeare, a 1938 copy of Charles Dickens' A Christmas Carol with a signed foreward from Lionel Barrymore and a new book called True Leadership by my Sweetheart's son, Paul 'Vinnie' Venturella.
And I could, of course, go on about the handspun shawl I've had forever and the few pieces of antique Furniture
But . . .
What I really wanted to share is the idea of Thanksgiving; the very need for my soul to state that which I am so grateful for as I take my mile hike each morning at 6am. I recite my Gratitude Alphabet from A to Z often discovering many things for one letter and none for another - X and Z are tough ones. And when I am finished there is indeed a sense of Peace and of knowing I have named those things I really wish to awake with tomorrow.
