A Time to Be Grateful

Yesterday I cleaned the refrigerator. I love the sense of accomplishment that particular chore brings me. There’s something about taking each item out, wiping down the shelves, discarding that take-out container from two weeks ago that brings me close to my mother. Every time I do it I think of her and how, even with her large family and abundant chores, she managed to do a fridge clean every single week before her weekly food shopping trek. She said she did it to remind herself of what she needed to buy, but there was no dismissing the satisfaction she enjoyed when she was done.

Cleaning the refrigerator also made me think of how lucky I was to have a refrigerator to clean, as well as food to prepare. As I threw out expired items: a moldy grape jelly, a desiccated lime, one olive in a jar sans juice, my gratitude grew.

Now is a time to be grateful.

Yes, we are confined to our homes.

But we have homes to be confined in.

Yes, we are separated from our friends and extended family.

But we can  share our love anyway.

Yes, we are frightened.

But we have hope and good will to sustain us

And now is the time to be grateful

For all of it.

 

 

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