Pancakes and the Practice of Gratitude

This was not the morning I wanted to make pancakes. 

We hit the snooze button twice and each of us were a little surly about a later start to the day that we had planned.  (Me more so than he, truth be told.)  D and AJ were also up within minutes and I was left scrambling to get a few quick verses of Scripture in along with a shotgun spray of prayer.

Lord, please help me to . . .
Lord, thank You for . . .
Lord, don't let me forget . . .

Don't you hate that running late start to the day?  It's even worse on a Monday, I think.  Amidst trying to organize thoughts and lists for the day, there were phone calls to take and even more to ignore.  There are some monumental things happening in the life of my family right now, and my mind was spinning with distraction.  (I'm pretty sure the second cup of coffee might have had something to do with that, too.)

"I want PAN CAKES!  I want PAN CAKES!  I wanna HELP make PAN CAKES!"

I so don't have time for this. 

But I am trying to remember that people are more important than projects and teaching is more important than to-do, so I agreed.  Okay.  Come help me make pancakes. 

Only she didn't really want to help.  She just wanted pancakes. 

I don't think I even realized how hard I was gritting my teeth until the muscle in my jaw started to twinge.  I tried to focus on cleansing breaths while I pulled the mixing bowls down and dug for measuring cups.

I've been faithfully reading A Holy Experience.  Reading isn't really quite the word though.   Drinking in, swimming around, thoughtfully relishing . . . those are all better ways to describe experiencing Ann's writing.  She has this ongoing project - 1000 Gifts - and she's encouraged me to seek the gifts, the endless gifts, our Father is always giving in the midst of every day.

As I flipped to the pancake recipe in my trusty Better Homes checkered cookbook, I decided to focus my thoughts on the gifts of that moment:

1) I have a beautiful, happy, healthy daughter to make pancakes for.
2) What once seemed unattainable has now become commonplace - she can communicate with me through words.
3) I have a pantry and refrigerator full of food for my family.
4) I can read from a cookbook.
5) Stovetop.  Electricity.  Running water.
6) Woke up today just as yesterday and the many days before that getting to do my dream job. 

Those are just a few of the gifts that came to mind while I mixed and poured and flipped and served.

I want to make this practice of gratitude such a part of my day that it becomes an unforced habit.  I'm going to join Ann and the others in her community of gratitude by purposefully recording and celebrating these endless gifts for the Giver of all good things.

Let me know if you decide to join in, too.

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I have, in fact, started the Shampoo Free experiment.  It's going, um, surprisingly well.  More on that later.

Comments

[Jen]

Thanks for reminding me Megan that my word of the year is "mindful" and I too need to be more mindful of the things in my life for which I am truly grateful. I hope you and D enjoyed the pancakes :-)

[Corey]

Great post. I definately try to always live looking for the good. this post is a wonderful reminder of just that. :)

oh and I have been giving Shampoo free a go on Sugar. I figured I experience on her. Her hair is much more managable.

[Becky]

Lovely post, and thanks for linking to the challenge. I will, in fact, join you. I just started a blog post and will either post it in a couple months, or when I reach 1000, whichever comes first.

[Sheila@momfessions]

Awwwwww! :o)

[Laura]

Mmmm...pancakes! What a great post. So many gifts, indeed!

[oh amanda]

Great post, Megan! I'm going to click around a little more, I can tell I need to join in!

[stacey]

too often i forget to let go of my perfection and just have a pancake-kind-of-day!

[Melanie]

Yes, we take so much for granted - thank you for this beautiful reminder.

[Ali B]

Thanks for the reminders of the gifts we take for granted sometimes.

[Lori]

My blog's subtitle says, "I'm learning to be flexible." I'm still in the non-verbal stage with Kameen, but I can so relate to your feeling of, "I don't have time for this right now." Kameen is not a predictable napper, and I usually have to nap with him, so I get very little time in the day. Some days, I just feel like I don't have time for this! Thanks for the reminder that the PEOPLE are what's important, and thanks for letting me know that I'm not alone. Your pancakes looked AWESOME!!!

[Rachel]

What a lovely perspective into that moment of your day! Those small parts of life at home are so much more important than we usually notice.

[Kickboxing Mama]

Love this! :)

[Megan (FriedOkra)]

Same here. I need to spend more time especially appreciating all the one-on-one time I have with B right now.

You know what's funny though? I laughed when you said D only wants to EAT the pancakes. B only wants to MAKE them, then when they're done, she's done, and ready to move on to the next project. Same with oatmeal, scrambled eggs and PB&Js. Make 'em and throw 'em away, that's her motto.

[Jackie]

Great post...many of us are so fortunate and never that the time to acknowledge it.