Last night I parked on the street. It was supposed to snow a couple inches overnight again and I had an early doctor appointment for my daughter. Our driveway is very steep with the electric boxes seated right at the outside edge. Not knowing if I would be able to get out and shovel the driveway early enough, it made more sense to park on the street.
This morning as I stood outside scraping my windows and allowing extra time for my car to warm up it occurred to me how spoiled I am most days. There are people that have to scrape and warm their car every time it snows. Being able to park in the garage is often something I take for granted. Today reminded me what a huge blessing it is to have this option.
It isn't just stuff we have that gets taken for granted. As I look out the window at the paw prints in the snow I am reminded that our sweet dog is getting older. There have been several times in the last couple years we thought we were going to lose her but she has held on. It is easy to take for granted that she is over sleeping on her dog bed (what she does most of the time these days) and just let her be. Yet when I think about a day in the future when I won't here her soft snores or be able to snuggle her; I wonder why I am taking these moments for granted when she is right here to pet.
What gets taken for granted in your life? Is it your spouse that does something to help your day go a little smoother? Is it your pet running to greet you when you come home? Is it the kids banging on the door while you try to use the restroom?
Even the things that may seem annoying at times can become something we miss down the road. If you can, take five minutes today to truly look around you. Think about all the things in your life that get taken for granted. If it is a person or pet, let them know. Take a moment to just be in awe of all the blessings you have each day.
I'm so grateful for soft dog snores. I'm grateful for the way my dog grinds her head on my leg to claim me. I'm grateful for my kids and these precious moments of them being young. I'm grateful to get the opportunity to scrape my car windows this morning to remind me how privileged I am. I'm grateful to my husband for getting up early to shovel the driveway so I could walk to my car a little safer. I'm grateful for the million things he does every day to make like go a little smoother. I'm grateful for my car and my home. I'm grateful for my laptop. I'm grateful for the soft old sofa that I like to sit on to unwind in the evening. I'm grateful for so many things I couldn't possibly write them all out in a blog. But I'm grateful to take more time to just sit and bask in the beauty of them all.
May today remind us of our blessings. May we take a moment to see what we take for granted with fresh eyes. Have a beautiful day!