When I was in Florida last week, my sister-in-law and my niece and I gathered shells on the beach. The ones we picked were little scallop shells that sea mollusks had piecered a little hole at the top. My niece and I intended to make wind chimes with them by stringing them together with fishing line. Yesterday, I sat out on the patio and did just that.
It was a miserably hot and humid day, the kind that takes your breath away once you step out of the air conditioning. I sat under the umbrella, listened to soft music, and strung my little shells. The solitary activity gave me time to think, and my thinking usually wanders into the realm of “I wish…” I wish we lived closer to the kids, I wish we had enough money so we could hop on a plane anytime we wanted to see family and friends, I wish we could win the lottery so we could pay off all our children’s school loans, I wish, I wish, I wish…
As I was about to enter that realm once again, I looked up and read my little garden sign I had just purchased the week before. It said, “Today I planted gratitude, and grace began to grow.” I laughed at myself, and instead of thinking about the things I didn’t have, I thought about the things I did have, and each thought was a blessing. With each shell I strung, I thought of something else I was thankful for. Though we don’t live as close to the children as I would like, we live so much closer than we used to and can see them more. I now live close to my brother and his family and get to enjoy his first grandchild. I live near the ocean once again, something I longed for all the years I was away from it. And the list went on and on.
This week the husband of one of my dear friends died, quite suddenly and unexpectedly, in the midst of an outing with friends and family. It made me aware in a real way that we really do not know what is going on in our bodies, and the first symptom that something is wrong could be the one that kills us. It reminded my husband and me that we need to treasure every moment together because we don’t know how many of those moments we have left. Our relationship is one of the sweetest blessings we have.
I did not have quite enough shells to make a real wind chime. I will need another trip to Florida for that. But my strings of shells do dance in the wind, so the visual is just as good as the aural would have been. Now, whenever I wander in my garden or see the garden from my kitchen table, I will see my cascade of shells and remember all my many blessings.
Today would have been my sister Karen’s 57th birthday. This post is for you, Karen. Your memory is a blessing.
Coming East 
As I began to read this post, I thought of your sister. I know how hard this must be for you and my thoughts are with you. This post is beautiful, very heart warming and it spoke to me so much. Thank you for your words, your encouragement and the admonition to count our blessings daily. Thanks, DAF
I think I need to read my own post over and over, because even though I wrote it, I still forget to remember to look for the blessings and live in the moment, DAF.
I need to copy your post and staple it to my forehead, I need a constant reminder to be thankful!
Haha, DAF. I’m trying to picture that!
Beautiful post, Susan. Just beautiful. 🙂
Thank you, Robin. Once in awhile, those kinds of posts come to me, but not often enough.
Thank you for this lovely reminder to appreciate all that we are given. It is making me cry, but not in a totally bad way.
This week it has been 15 years since my brother passed – he would have just turned 50. I think he and Karen are looking down on us in love.
Your brother was so young when he died, Peg. So sorry for you and your family to have gone through that. Just got back from a great vacation with my sweet little family, and I appreciated every minute of being with them.
You are surely lucky to have the wonderful family that you do. Of course you wish you could see them ALL more, but you are fortunate indeed that they love you and miss you too. You KNOW I want to be adopted by your family :o) hahahaha!.
If my sister were alive, she would be 63. And she has been gone, 44 years 😦
Blessings to you. Loving thoughts of Karen and the shells ❤
So sorry to hear you lost your sister at such a young age, Kathleen. I know I am blessed to have the family I have. If they weren’t so wonderful, maybe I wouldn’t miss them so much! Love your comment about wanting to be adopted by us.
Really loved each and every word in your post and took 5 deep breaths amidst my busy schedule just to inhale some peace. Thanks “Coming East” for bringing such a beautiful moment of peace on my busy day!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! Love you!!!!!!!!
Wow, ARK! Your comment made me very happy. Thank you!
The shells do add a nice touch; I like your new sign in the header. Perfect!
I got that sign at Stoney’s, Patti, our little farm down the road. I love it, too!
Thank you for the beautiful post, Susan!
Thanks for taking the time to comment, Amy.
Love your shells, Susan. We all have the “glass half empty” moments sometimes. Thanks for the reminder. Beautiful post!
I like the way you put it, Jiawei. Hope you are having a great time with family.
Something tells me Karen may have given you a nudge to recognize that sign. Thanks so much for nudging all of us with this post. By the way, those shells are beautiful!
Thank you, Life. Karen would have liked making wind chimes out of shells with me. She would have loved gathering the shells even more.
Thanks for reminding me to be grateful too Susan. Beautiful thoughts.
I think quite a few of us, if not most, need to be reminded, HG. Thanks.
Very poignant post. Thanks for sharing. Love the shells!
Thanks for reading and commenting, Lisa.
Thank you for the reminder – always good to have reinforcement.
Yes, Maureen. It’s something we know, but we don’t follow it very often. Have been missing you at yoga. Hope all is well in your life.
So many wonderful thoughts in your post today…. I feel as though my relationship with my husband is a true blessing too. I’m glad your little wind chime reminded you (and will continue to remind you) of all your blessings.
We do need to cherish each moment…!
The older I get, Dianna, the less I take for granted.
You have so much. Blessed are you.
Indeed, Adela. Dwelling on the positive is good for the soul.
This post was just what I needed to read today! I too have been lining up all my “I wishes” and feeling sorry for myself. My wishes are very similar to yours and I find that sometimes dwelling on all of those thoughts tends to make me start to worry. Then I jump on the anxiety train! Your post reminded me that each day is a gift and there is so much to be thankful for in this life. Thank you for your beautiful and thoughtful words! May you find many sweet moments of blessings as you remember your sister today.
Mama, your post made me so happy! I’m just like you. I hop on the anxiety train on a daily basis, and I’m trying so hard to stay away from the station. I love my little garden sign and the shells because maybe they will help me take different trips instead.
I think Karen is smiling, watching your grace.
Sweet comment, Stacia. Thank you.
A truly wonderful way to start my day.
Thank you, Angeline. I’m happy if it put you in a good frame of mind to begin your day.