A Year of Gratitude – August 13, 2024

The tomato patch gave me so many reasons to be grateful today. In fact, there were so many that my basket was too full to carry them. I had to resort to an upturned shirttail to carry them all.

There were more ripe tomatoes than I could possibly fit into my basket. They were in different sizes and shapes. I popped a few of them straight into my mouth while I was picking them. They were so full of flavor, so delicious.

As I was adding them to the upturned hem of my shirt, I was thinking about the garden giving me so many delicious reasons to be grateful. I harvest something every day this time of year. Each ripe fruit or vegetable that is ready to be enjoyed is a miracle of its own.

It’s amazing that small, delicate plants put into the ground earlier in the year can become so productive. It’s shocking that they are so resilient even when the summer weather is inhospitable. Every delicious bite is a marvel.

It’s really no wonder that gardeners still go to the effort of gardening. It’s so much work and the season is sure to be filled with its share of disappointments. Yet there are moments like these that make my gardener’s heart soar with pride.

Gardening is such a good teacher. It teaches me patience. It reminds me that it is okay to hold on to realism and hope at the same time. It shows me that great things can be born of harsh conditions, that resilience is something to strive for.

The garden also reminds me that I have so much to be grateful for. I can’t fit it all in my basket. Sometimes it is nice to be reminded of just how much I have to be thankful for.

And yes, one of them was standing at my feet. Penny Lane and I had just come back from our evening walk. She was watching a group of Carolina Wrens flitting about. They were singing their sweet little song. It was a lovely moment.

This post is part of our A Year of Gratitude Series. You can find the introduction, inspiration, and entire year’s gratitude’s posts here.