AThanksgiving Blessing

A Blessing to Give Thanks

As the dawn rises today to greet the morning,
so, too, may your own heart awaken to meet the joy which awaits you.
May you have the presence of mind to feel
each gentle breeze, each shower of rain, each kiss of sunshine
as the blessing it truly is.
May your heart expand today to hold the memory
of all the love it has known:
The tender touch of friendship
The fervent heat of passion
The soothing balm of kindness
The abundance of unearned grace.
May you have the eyes to behold today
the reckless beauty of the eternal
woven into the tapestry of creation,
pouring forth from sea and sky
moonlight and meadow,
symphony and psalm.
In the hubub of the day's frantic tasks,
may you remember what most nourishes your being,
and return to the breath, the wonder and the gratitude that
illuminates the journey of your years.
As you travel through this day,
may you stretch forth your courage to
embrace the unexpected, so that
wherever you may find yourself,
you will find yourself deeply and gratefully
at home.

-KayleenAsbo

I wrote the blessing above today in homage to the great Celtic poet John O'Donahue. Every morning, I read from his gorgeous book To Bless the Space Between Us and then take a few minutes of silence to watch the sun rise over Mount Tamalpais until the birds are in full chorus with their own symphony. This has been one of the practices that has most opened my own heart this year and helped me plant my feet more deeply in the garden of gratitude. John urges us to take every opportunity to pause for a moment of wonder, to appreciate the fullness of even the dark and difficult moments of life, to bless the whole journey at every step.

KayleenAsbo