Eating dinner outside used to be a pleasure associated with holidays. But last night, siting over a meal in the evening sunshine, we observed that this summer it has become the norm. Will we look back on the summer of ’13 as a special time? Or will deliciously long hot summers become ordinary?

The sad fact is that if it became commonplace  – a summer like  ’13 every year – we would soon cease to enjoy it, and take it, like so many of the delights of life, for granted.

This was brought home to me forcefully when on holiday in Vienna recently, Much of the time I spent happily sitting in a comfortable chair in our apartment reading a book, or sitting at the table writing my journal.  I wondered “Why don’t I do this at home? Just enjoy being?”

I am constantly amazed at how busy my retired friends are – and have come to the conclusion that we humans furiously fill up our lives with things to do and rarely stop to enjoy what is simply around us.

One of the old-fashioned habits of Christians was to give thanks regularly. There is a wonderful  prayer called the General Thanksgiving, which was often known by heart. Part of it ran: “ We bless you for our creation, preservation, and all the blessings of this life …  And, we pray, give us such an awareness of your mercies, that with truly thankful hearts we may show forth your praise, not only with our lips, but in our lives.”

Try it today – say thanks.
 

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