Gratitude

"I had time and a sense of wonder."  What more could anyone ask for?  Yet, how often do we squander those things?

When I was young or in my 20's, I remember being frustrated that I had nothing to do on a weekend.  Or I would lament to my mother that there was nothing going on.

How much time did I waste.  What I took for granted back then was that I had time with my mom and dad, who are now deceased.

There is no amount of money I wouldn't spend to have just one of those "wasted" hours back with Mom and Dad.

But now as a parent, I can treasure the time I have with my family.

I was blessed, though, to have my grandmother as one of my best friends when I was very young.  She helped me discover the importance of having a sense of wonder.

I am blessed now to have a job, teaching, where I get to indulge my sense of wonder constantly, by engaging my students, reading their writing, writing on my own, reading constantly, talking with my colleagues, and constantly learning more and . . . best of all . . . finding ever more to wonder about.