I Have Enough

There wasn’t a better feeling in the whole world than the feeling she had right now.

Snuggled on her daddy’s lap.
Laughing at her little brother.
Listening to Andy Williams as he told her It Was The Most Wonderful Time.
Seeing the glow of the fireplace as it danced across the tinsel that hung from the tree. Smiling at her beautiful mom all dressed up, yet working in the kitchen preparing the turkey. Little wax angels on the window sill watching over her.
A snowman candle on the piano and daddy’s teddy bear tucked on her lap. Christmas books laid out, ready to read on this perfect Christmas Eve.
Her tiny heart was so full.

My tiny heart was so full.

Others might laugh at the things I choose to display at Christmas time~
The books, the candles, my dads teddy bear. My parents retro Christmas bulbs or the fruited wreath and basket my mom always displayed~
but all of these things are beautiful reminders to me of those I love.
Reminders of my mom and my dad who aren’t here with me this year to celebrate the holiday they both loved so much. The holiday they made so magical for me. Each one of these things is a piece of them, a piece of my heart. Even though they are simple heirlooms, they remind me of a heart full of thankfulness for those I love so dearly. They remind me that even though my heart misses them, I cannot be sad as I celebrate Thanksgiving because they have left me so much joy and happiness.

They have left me the gift of gratitude.

I want to leave that same joy and happiness for my own children and grandchildren.

This year has been horrific for many of us and yet, my heart that once was so tiny is now so full.
How can I not be thankful?
I have so much to be thankful for.
I lost my daddy, but I will never lose the legacy he left me. I will never lose the beautiful memories my heart clings to. I will never lose the love he gave. I will never lose the magic of Christmas he instilled in me.

Today I snuggle with my granddaughters. The glow from the fireplace dances off the ornaments that were once my parents. Andy Williams is telling us It’s The Most Wonderful Time. The teddy bear is tucked on Ellie’s lap as Clara holds our manger’s baby Jesus.

I want their tiny hearts to be full.

Someday when I’m gone and they’re up in my attic looking through my boxes, I want them to cherish the decorations that only they might hold so dear. Others might not understand why they choose to display them. My prayer is that when they do, they don’t remember the Thanksgiving grandma was so sad but instead how very much they were loved and how much they have to be thankful for.

Yes, there is always so very much to be thankful for. Fill the tiny hearts in your life with that love and thankfulness this Thanksgiving.

Give them the gift of gratitude.

Psalms 78:4-7, 102:18,
I Thessalonians 5:18
Colossians 3:15
II Corinthians 9:11
Philippians 4:11, 13

JJHeller I Have Enough