My husband and I moved two and a half years ago to be near my father-in-law after my mother-in-law passed away and both of my own parents passed as well. It was a difficult 10 months through which we seemed to live in hospitals and funeral homes, see-sawing between gratitude and grief.

I loved our home in Ohio. Clark Shaw Road holds many memories for me as I could walk for miles, past the railroad track, waving hello to neighbors sitting outside on the porch or weeding the garden. Shortly after moving in, a small winery opened down the street where bands played Live Music on Saturday nights and food trucks filled our stomachs as we sang along with the lyrics of hits like “Stuck Like Glue” by Sugarland and “Return to Sender” by Elvis Presley.

Shortly after that, a beautiful young family moved into a farmhouse nearby and remodeled the barn to turn it into an upscale farmer’s market where homegrown foods of all kinds were sold. It was ideal. Though our church was almost thirty minutes away, it was absolutely worth the drive.

Then came the morning God spoke to my subconscious during my Quiet Time and said, “Move to Florida.” I paused for a moment and thought to myself, Gary and I should talk about that. Dad has been so lonely since Mom passed away. Swiftly came the admonition, “I mean now.”

I am not one to say no to God’s leading, so I immediately informed my husband that God wanted us to move to Florida to be near his dad to help during his time of grief. Though he was shocked that God would ask him to retire early, we pushed the ball down the proverbial road and sold our home relatively quickly before moving to south Florida into a home we bought over the phone.

We had seen the model on a previous trip to Florida when we were visiting my in-laws before my mother-in-law passed, so we were familiar with the layout. We just didn’t realize that the house the ‘kind salesperson’ placed us in was on the shortest NON-golf street in the golf community we were purchasing in. It is fairly near the noisy road and faces a small pond and numerous condos. We may have one of the least desirable views in the entire community, but we were in a hurry and purchased out of fear. We wanted to know exactly where we would be living when our Ohio home sold, so we took the plunge on the phone and signed the papers.

Despite our mistake, we have enjoyed the lanai and pool during the winter months and have grown to enjoy the reduced square footage inside as well. It’s not Ohio, but most days are sunny, so we are grateful for that.

It’s been some years since I read Ann Voskamp’s book, One Thousand Gifts, but was reminded by a dear friend of its powerful text and supernatural ability to help readers increase their awareness of blessings and many reasons to be grateful. So, I bought a new copy since I could not locate my original in the leftover boxes we stored at a local storage facility.

Early in the book, Ann shares Paul’s writing in Philippians 4:11-12: “I have learned how to be content with whatever I have. I know how to live on almost nothing or with everything. I have learned the secret of living in every situation, whether it is with a full stomach or empty, with plenty or little.” Ouch. He learned all of that and yet I struggle to be content in this hot, humid state where my hair is in constant frizz and my skin breaks out whenever the temperature surpasses 85 degrees.

How did Paul “learn” to be content? “Learn” the secret of living in every situation?

The key is just as Ann Voskamp so eloquently wrote about. It is in the eucharisteo, the thanksgiving – gratitude for all things, large and small. The same thanksgiving and gratitude that the Bible says opens the gates of heaven so our prayers are heard and answered.

And so, as I re-read One Thousand Gifts, I find myself making my own mental list of things to be grateful for and feeling that elusive contentment sneaking up on me. Just this morning, I woke feeling grateful for these:

The feel of my own bed after traveling for the past six days.
The joy of a day free of appointments and work.
Memories of being with my daughter and grandson in Colorado.
A husband who volunteers to pick up Chinese on the way home from work.
A comfortable sofa.
Iced coffee, replenished by my sweet husband while I was out of town.
Life… breath, sight, a healthy body, and God beside me wherever I go.

Even a short list gets my gratitude mojo going. I find myself smiling as I unpack my suitcase and begin a load of laundry. I skip through the house placing my laptop back in my office, tucking my make-up bag and toiletries under the sink, reviewing my schedule for the week, pausing to peruse the beauty outside as the palm trees wave in the breeze and birds chirp nonstop as they chase each other tree to tree.

We are so blessed. Right here. In south Florida.

I will continue to dream of a post-and-beam home in the hills of North Carolina, but am “learning” to be content where we are. And the “being” part of contentment is speaking loudly to me.

After the blessing of having seven books published, I find myself wanting to craft and watch a favorite series or documentary. I want to read, want to breathe and just let life go by for a bit while I rest, regroup, and gain clarity for my next steps.

For me in this season, being content with “being” is where I believe God has led me, and I am learning to respond with a grateful ‘yes.’

I am truly grateful for this opportunity to be near my father-in-law, to help with his care and love on him as often as we can. He’s in such great shape at 97 years old; we may be here for a while – all the more reason to learn to be content with the heat and humidity.

For the foreseeable future, we will spend Sundays with Dad as well as days in between as often as we can. And though this season of ‘new’ has taken a toll on our marriage and on us individually, we will commit to learning the art of gratitude in this place as we plan for our dream home in North Carolina.

God is good.

We are blessed.

Ann Voskamp is a treasure, and gratitude is life to a hurting soul.

Have you ever made a Gratitude List of your own, just jotted down the many little things you see, hear, or notice when, in the past, you didn’t perceive them at all? There are many blank lines at the end of my last book, A Guided Gratitude Journal, on which you could begin your list. There are also many thoughtful comments and questions to help guide you toward a life filled with greater gratitude and joy.

And if you like to dance around the house or move to the music while you drive, be sure to check out my Spotify playlist – Last Best Year – Songs of Gratitude. Playlist embedded below.

I’d love to know if you start your own gratitude list and how it affects your life in the most positive ways.

Have a blessed week!

With much love and gratitude for you,
Donna