September Twenty-Twenty-Six

Family —

this is our one‑room schoolhouse,

where we learn how to love.

Here we learn to say, “please, sorry, and thank you.”

Here we practice patience,

gratitude, service, compassion, gentleness,

with a side of wit and whimsy every now and then.

 

We laugh together,

make awards both to poke fun and affirm gifts.

We proclaim “so awesome!”

at the beauty around us together.

We dance in the kitchen.

We see each other’s true colors,

and keep turning toward one another.

We learn to extend forgiveness more freely.

We have a place to receive grace upon grace —

a place where love keeps teaching us,

even on the hard days....

 

I am so grateful that God gave me each one of you.

Thank you for being the key people who teach me how to love.

May this one‑room schoolhouse be the place

where love keeps finding us.

-written after this hike in Alaska pictured above for Anna, Taylor, and Jason 

note from a hiker left in one of the backcountry huts where we stayed on our backpacking trip in Alaska 

Grateful living is the awareness that we stand on holy ground—always—in touch with Mystery. 

- Br. David Steindl-Rast