Grateful Words; Grateful for Words

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Early last week, I was thinking about Ann's and Holley's series on words. They had asked for posts about words. Could I do it? Could I write about words without writing about their power to wound? Could I just be grateful for words? That was the plan.

For last Tuesday.

The plan was derailed, ironically, by words. But the thought remained. What are the words for which I am grateful? I've committed to counting twenty items in this space each week this year. Are there twenty ways words bless, just this past week? Can I count those alone? I can, indeed. It's surprisingly easy.

~ Handwritten words, sent in the mail, with a skein of yarn.

~"I luf mome" in crayon, surrounded by dozens of lopsided hearts.

~"You're Maria. Daddy's the Captain. Sing Do-Re-Mi." Again. And again. And again.

~"Looks like we're getting paid, after all."

~"The Mass is ended; go in peace."

~Entering Albemarle County

~"Happy 70th Birthday, Dad!"

~A tiny two-year-old who falls asleep saying, "Grandpa makes me happy. Baba makes me happy."

~"This is my daughter, Elizabeth."

~Planning. Momcation. Knitting. Words of hope.

~In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God.

~"Let's go to Florida in February."

~"I'm not going to the Super Bowl."

~"All players will fly home on February 28th for some time at home with family and friends."

~The first words I hear every morning: "Divine Office: From ancient times, Church has had the custom of celebrating each day the Liturgy of the Hours. In this way, the Church fulfills the Lord's precept to pray without ceasing, at once offering praise to God, the Father, and interceding for the salvation of the world." @Divineoffice.org. I'm addicted to those words.

~Becca, at two o'clock, every Monday afternoon: "I'm going to Starbuck's, can I get you something?"

~"Is now a good time to come over and show you my Becky Higgins Project Life?" It sure is. How cool is that?

~"It's snowing!"

~"Oh, I forgot to tell you. I talked to Dad about three hours ago. He said to tell you he landed safely and he'll call tonight." (I was wondering...)

~Thank you.

~I'm sorry.