Gratitude

I am happy you were here.

I am happy you were here.

“I’m not very happy that you’re leaving.”

 

My 4 year old nephew said that to me as we walked to my car after a weekend together.

 

“I”m not very happy about it either,” I told him.

 

How I love the way children say the things we’re all feeling. 

The things that maybe should be said a little more often.

 

As I drove back home, I smiled at all the fun we’d had together.

Playing toys.

Reading stories.

Giggling.

Holding hands.

Being together.

 

Even thought I had to leave, my heart left fuller than when it came.

 

Isn’t that something?

 

Whoever you’re missing today (I think we are all missing someone),

maybe take a minute to appreciate having had something that is now worth missing.

 

Smile at the memories.

Love the time you had together, even if it was too short.

 

Acknowledge the ways you changed for the better just for knowing them.

 

Because even though you had to part ways, maybe you can look back and say, “I am sad you left…

but I am happy you were here.”

 

 

Posted by Leanne DeKay
Overwhelmed in the best way

Overwhelmed in the best way

Do you ever have days where you feel overwhelmed?

But like in a good way?

 

Unexpected blessings just keep coming to the point where you feel overwhelmed by them.

Maybe even to the point of becoming emotional.

 

I had one of those days recently.

 

It wasn’t anything major.

Nothing life-changing or earth-shattering.

 

But it was so many “little” things.

Little things that somehow filled up so much room in my heart.

 

The local grocery store setting aside something for me to use in my classroom.

 

A handmade card from a student,

complete with purple dinosaurs.

 

Coworkers checking in to see if I needed anything,

asking how the day went.

 

Messages that encouraged me in unexpected ways.

 

Running into a first grader on my walk

and getting to hear about her first day of school while we walked together.

 

The list goes on.

 

Maybe your day wasn’t perfect.

Maybe it was average or even less than.

 

But I encourage you today to look back on those little moments that made you smile.

 

The moments where you felt unexpected joy.

 

Collect them in your heart, 

and keep them there awhile.

 

Let them overwhelm you in the best way possible.

 

 

 

Posted by Leanne DeKay in Gratitude