Looking with Hearts

Every once in a while we are surprised at what happens in this journey called Life. Our day-to-day existence often becomes rather routine, but occasionally our lives receive a bit of a jolt to remind us how good life really can be.

Several weeks ago a string of surprises in my life began with a visit from my 17-year-old grandson whom I’d not saw for quite a few months. Although his stay was a very short one, just several hours, it was indeed a pleasure to talk with him, give him a hug, and even a couple of little treats for him to eat on his way back home.

A few days later, I answered my phone and was happy to hear my brother’s voice. We talked a few minutes and then he told me he was coming to visit me in mid-September. It’s been a bit over a year since we were last together. Since he is my only sibling, getting together always brings me great joy.

Not long after his call, my oldest daughter phoned to say she was coming to visit for a couple of days and to spend her birthday with us. A family meal, with her brothers and their families attending, was filled with laughter, reliving memories of the past, and making new memories. When the time came for her to leave, she remarked it had been the best birthday she’d ever had.

Lastly, a box was delivered to us along with a note from our niece in California saying it had been good getting to see us and she hoped we enjoyed this gift. Upon opening the box, I discovered a half-dozen each of peaches, nectarines, and plums from an orchard on the West Coast. Each time I ate one of the huge pieces of fruit, I thought of how much I’d enjoyed talking with her when she was here this summer.

Though all these surprises really made my day as each of them happened, I thought of the fact that there are many small surprises that occur which we often miss recognizing because we are busy with our lives and forget to look at our days with our hearts instead of our eyes.

All in all, over a period of about ten days I received four reminders of how good life can be. And how much I have to be grateful for.