Photo Credit

In the rush between dinner and dessert, in the harried press to
Get-These-Kids-to-Bed, four-year-old Isaiah remembers.

Running through the house, he shouts, “Guys! We need to do our
yeaves!”

//

My family is growing leaves again this Thanksgiving

Last Tuesday I cut contact paper into the shape of a large, barren
tree and stuck it to the wood paneled wall in the living room.  Then we cut a bowl-full of leaves.  Every evening we each write what we’re
thankful for on a leaf and stick it to the tree.  By Thanksgiving the tree will be full and
green, vibrant. 

//

Isaiah doesn’t remind us to do our leaves because he’s so very
grateful.  Most of his leaves proclaim anticipatory
gratitude for the handcuffs he hopes to receive for Christmas (heaven help us).  He reminds us because after the note’s
written, he gets to color his leaf and Isaiah is a big fan of coloring.  He’s been known to spend a whole afternoon
coloring at the kitchen counter.  He
loves it.

And his love leads us, even if it has nothing at all to do with
gratitude. 

That’s the way love is. 

Love opens doors, makes way and helps us remember what we set out
to do, who we wanted to be, when we ourselves have forgotten.  And if we don’t have enough love of our own,
all we need to do is follow someone else’s, to sit for a while in the glow of
their passion and delight. 

I don’t love coloring like Isaiah does, but his love for it cuts
through the evening rush, spurs memory and reminded, we follow in its
wake. 

Do you have special family practices for the season of Thanksgiving?  I’d love to hear about them in the comments!

*   *   *

Welcome to the #SmallWonder link-up.

What if we chose to deliberately look for the small moments of wonder, the small sparks of presence, of delight or sorrow, of true humanity in which we meet God? 

That’s my proposal – that we gather here each week to share one moment of Wonder from each of our days.  

You’re invited to link-up a brief post about a small moment of wonder.  Don’t worry if your post is too long, too short, or not just right – you’re welcome to come as you are.  

While you’re here, please do take a look around and encourage at least one other blogger with a comment.  

      

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