Favorite Things

Midnight. I hadn't seen that hour in quite a while. I normally fall asleep no later than eleven. But last Saturday night I stayed up. The house was clean (well, picked up). The temperature wasn't hot. Everyone was asleep. The ringing in my ears required focus to hear, which I didn't give. It was silent and dark. I cut a pile of cheese, got a cold glass of water and a handful of pretzels. I settled into (not onto)my cozy couch and watched an episode of Men in Trees ( I love this show and always really appreciate the writers' sense of humor) on the Internet (my new favorite way to watch TV--less time, less commercials and free if you have Internet). I felt like I was stealing some bit of luxury. I didn't get to sleep late this morning. But I feel refreshed.

The girls have taken a liking to the music in Sound of Music, especially "My Favorite Things":

Raindrops on roses, and whiskers on kittens,

bright copper kettles and warm

woolen mittens, brown paper-packages tied up with string.

I've been thinking lately about those little things, the unimportant things, rituals, etc. that make me smile, that bring a moment of happiness. Favorite things. I know, I know, as believers we can have peace in Christ. We don't need things, we don't even need happiness per say. But I think God allows a few things in our life to make us stop and be filled. What makes you happy? Are they big things, dependent on life's circumstances or little things? I think it has to be little things. Life is too unpredictable for circumstances to dictate happiness. Not that happiness is the only goal, but having it sometimes helps. I get the strangest high from picking food from my garden and then using it to cook for my family (and I hate cooking). Other favorite things: my girls' giggling together, holding Tom's hand, talking to my mom on the phone, plants (especially ones I have nursed back to health), a good cup of white or green tea consumed without interuption, really soft sheets and pillows, a patch of sunshine on my sofa in the winter, and at this stage of life an occassional quiet moment to read or relax in a neat house without being needed by anyone (I realize someday those moments could be all too common) What are your favorite things?

Simple things. Simple joys. What would we do without them? I just finished a book called Stolen Lives about a woman and her family who were imprisoned for 20 years (age 19-39)and for at least ten of them they were in separate cells, no light, no medical care, minimal food. It was a political imprisonment in Morocco. She didn't believe in God, and still doesn't, but she survived because of determination I guess...how would you survive without your favorite things, without touch? I don't think I would without the hope of Christ. I still can't figure out how they did it...