A Year of Gratitude – November 12, 2024

We were given another beautiful day, warmer than we had any right to expect. I’m trying to make the most of these warmer days. I have been walking, tromping about in our woods, and just spending time outside, making time to be outside in nature.

It’s a rare gift to be able to be outside this time of year without a heavy coat, perhaps even snow boots. So, I’m trying to remind myself that rare gifts should be enjoyed. I’m making sure that they don’t pass by without me getting out to enjoy them.

I know that they won’t be here long. Or at least they shouldn’t. That just makes me want to make sure to enjoy them even more.

So, on a tromp through the woods today I discovered a row of spindle. You might know this plant as a burning bush. They’re of two names, but the same plant. From a distance, it looks as if a painter had drawn a brush with beautiful red paint across the horizon of the landscape.

Up close, the leaves are such a beautiful shade of red, almost a deep crimson with just a tinge of pink. The little red berries are a deeper shade of red yet still vibrant and glossy.

The up close view was where I found my gratitude today. I could see from a distance that this plant was colorful, that it was beautiful. Yet I had only an inkling of just how beautiful it was. I needed to see it up close to really appreciate it.

Thanks to a beautiful day and giving myself the gift of a few minutes to spend outside, I was able to experience it. As I walked away, back towards our old barn, I could feel myself fill with gratitude. It stayed with me all afternoon, just like the memory of the beauty I had experienced up close.

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.