I Am Blessed

For someone in her 80s, I feel that I am blessed in many ways. First of all, that I am still here! I cannot complain of poor health—I am really "hale and hearty." I take a brief walk almost every day down a side road, early in the morning. I love the quietness—almost no cars to disturb the peacefulness. Birds along the wooded hills are making morning sounds, but I hear no human sounds except the traffic on the main road at a distance. The distant verdant hillside adds splashes of autumn colors, as the early morning vapors begin to rise and dissipate. How I love to pause, and just drink in the glory of our mountain at that early time of day. It's a never-ending source of joy and worship. I hate to leave the scene.

A gorgeous burning bush along my walk lived up to its name. Later, I'd see red berries among its flaming branches. A welcome sight has been a magic cornfield—the corn stalks seemed to grow higher almost as I watched. Were they nine feet tall, or ten?

As I sat on my sun porch at dusk, with my beloved feline companion, the sounds of farm life were very soothing. The cutting of corn furnished a contented humming that put me in a sort of reverie.

I reminisced, I dozed, I planned conversations with loved ones, and I fantasized a bit. How blessed I am to have so many people who truly shower me with love and devotion. Many are the hours I share with those who converse with me by telephone. Numerous letters and notes come from summer friends, long departed for the winter. I get postcards from others who, though traveling, remember to let me know that I am thought about. My heart is filled with joy.

I am blessed to own my nice little home, built with love and care by my dear departed husband. I have shrubs and trees that we planted many years ago. I haven't forgotten how this land looked before we built and nurtured it. I still maintain a vegetable garden and numerous flowerbeds. I mow my areas of lawn. It is good exercise, I'm told! It is also good to have to carry armfuls of wood in, each day, to keep the home fires burning bright, I suppose! But the comfort from a wood fire is really a blessing that few are fortunate enough to enjoy these days. No ups and downs of temperature with a thermostat—I have constant, steady warmth. I wouldn't want to have it any other way.

I look forward to years of good health, while still feeling like a 40-year-old "inside," with a zest for life and love. And guess what, I still have my blond hair! And very few wrinkles! Why has God been so good to me? I thank Him daily for all my amazing blessings and joys. It truly is, and has been, a wonderful life so far!