It's a tedious, sticky job, and it's easy for me to get lost in the details and overlook the big picture...jars and jars of deep purple juice all winter long,
This week I was keeping an eye open for "soul stretch" moments as I sorted and stemmed the sticky little orbs for a few hours most days. And my perspective came around, once again, to gratitude.
A few weeks ago our Sunday morning worship leader challenged us with these words from a wall hanging he sees every day:
It's not the happy people who are thankful, it's the thankful people who are happy.
So, if I wanted to be a happy person, cutting, sorting, washing and steaming grapes, for hours (and hours and more hours) the secret was to be found in thankfulness.
Quiet moments.
Delicious grape sweetness on my tongue.
Soft grass underfoot.
Strength to carry ladened bowls.
Birdsong.
Conversations with neighbors across the fence.
Tiny chipping sparrow nest.
Aroma of grapes.
Water to wash sticky hands.
Time to pray, aloud.
Two chipping sparrow nests.
Sunshine.
Such a view
My bowl of thankfulness filled and overflowed, and it wasn't nearly as heavy to carry as that pan of grapes...
I Thessalonians 5:18