All the more reason

A friend told the following to a group of us around a campfire not too long ago, and I thought it was worth passing on:

I awaken; the sky is dark; I arise and get ready for the day. The sun emerges; the house stirs, my spouse starts to move; the kids rev up their rivalries, and the dogs meander playfully underfoot.

After breakfast attempts, all but me are in the family bus, most bound for school, and my other is focused on later helping others. I’m left to work in the clinic adjacent to our home.

As the hours pass, lessons are learned, tests taken, sports are practiced, and arts rehearsals are undertaken. Patients, clients, and customers are seen; shopping, appointments, and unscheduled necessities are handled—emergency or not. Family and friends are encountered for better or worse, but appreciation for all are acknowledged in the end.

Before you know it, the day starts dimming toward night with or without ballgames or recitals occurring. Homework or preparing for the next day’s tasks begins transpiring, and supper is being rushed through or lavishly celebrated, followed by maybe favorite TV shows or a recent or classic movie being viewed.

By late nightfall, with most folks in bed, hopefully all under our roof are grateful for the opportunities the day has offered (depending on which activities or events each child or adult has enjoyed/experienced/suffered/ endured), and maybe given a prayer for blessings having been bestowed on them during the previous handful of hours. And then again, maybe they forgot to express such gratefulness. If not, at least there’s another day ahead to try once again. At least for most of us. All the more reason for saying a prayer.

TYLER THOMPSON Little Rock