Waving farewell to another month, I rejoice in a glance back at my September Savoring joining Heather Gerwing as she hosts a monthly feature called, Share Four Somethings, where writers share the fourth Saturday of each month something in each of four categories from the previous month.
Many readers notice I choose a theme for each month, which often reflects lessons or themes from my personal life. This month’s theme is “savoring”, which intimates pleasant lingering, or reflection. My reflections on this month involve learning to savor God’s goodness in the everyday.
Each month the four categories remain the same: something loved, something gleaned, something braved (or saved), and something achieved.
The premise delights me; the new categories falling right in line with my one word 2022 journey with Resilience! Looking back over the previous month through these four categories helps me linger with God’s goodness, and ignites my gratitude.
something loved
A wonderful opportunity for supporting a worthy cause kicks off my September Savoring with a delightful fundraiser. My husband and I both work for non-profit organizations. My regular readers know I work at a non-profit hospice, and my husband works for Schreiber Center for Pediatric Development.
Scheiber Center for Pediatric Development is a nationally recognized pediatric facility, providing family-centered education and therapy programs for infants, children, and adolescents with disabilities, developmental delays, and acquired injuries.
Our youngest daughter benefitted from their services while a child with a severe illness, and we love their mission! As a non-profit, they host many fundraising events over the course of the year, but their biggest event is the Annual Rubber Duckie Race held in September.
Donors purchase rubber duckies in various quantities, which are then dumped by a huge crane into a local river to race toward a finish line.
Fun activities for the whole family, but obviously geared toward kids, fill the day and the big race ends the day with more prizes and fun. We purchased a whole “flock” in Grace’s name and proudly displayed our team sign!
something gleaned
This month had me savoring a well written and thought provoking post by blogger friend, Barbara Lee Harper, who blogs at Stray Thoughts. Her post entitled, “Passive or Pursuing?” expounded on the Fruit of the Spirit found in Galatians 5:22-23, but especially on the character trait of meekness, as also referenced in 1 Timothy 6:11.
In his first letter to Timothy, Paul admonishes Timothy to pursue meekness.
Barb invited her readers to consider while the Fruit of the Spirit is certainly produced and matured by the Holy Spirit, our approach was anything but passive considering Paul’s admonition in 1 Timothy.
Clearly confirming God’s sourcing of the Fruit of the Spirit, Barb commented, “God gives it: we don’t work it up in our own efforts. But in love and obedience, we lay hold of and pursue and cooperate with the Spirit’s working in our lives.”
Take the time to read Barb’s post HERE, for her full discussion and six great ways to follow after the fruit of the Spirit in your own life!
something braved
September Savoring’s Something Braved arrived in braving our first night alone putting my three year old granddaughter Grace to bed without mama.
Grace has suffered a form of separation anxiety since her birth, preventing us from holding, or babysitting her for the first two plus years of her life. A single mom, my daughter was unable to benefit from much help from us to give her a break, or time out of the home.
Through Early Intervention help and patience, we all worked together to enable my husband and I to finally start picking her up from pre-school, and staying with her in her home for short periods of time successfully.
When the opportunity arose to help my daughter with a work commitment involving an afternoon, evening and bedtime, we agreed with no little trepidation.
Despite our hesitation, Grace had a wonderful time with her Pops and Gigi. We played, laughed, and had the best conversations; and when bedtime came, she snuggled in without any anxiety at her mama’s absence.
Still savoring the delight of that evening, we have hope of many more!
something achieved
Welcoming my favorite season of Autumn as part of my September Savoring, I thoroughly enjoyed getting all of my autumn decor out in early September! Definitely Something Achieved for me, as finding time to pack up spring/summer decor, and unpack autumn’s generally takes most of the month of September.
But this year, thanks to my Something Achieved last spring, in organizing my seasonal decor, I am able to enjoy my favorite season almost a month longer via my decorations!
Though my outdoor flower pots need their autumn update, and a visit to the local farm market is in the offing for some pumpkins, I can happily say autumn has officially arrived in my home!
september savoring: share four somethings
Thank you for taking a leisurely walk back through my September Savoring with me! I am grateful to Heather for creating such a creative way to review the moments of our days which often slip by so quickly. Sharing Four Somethings is a way to savor one more time those things we loved, gleaned, braved and achieved!
But you don’t have to be a writer or blogger to enjoy this practice. Why not take a few moments and think back over YOUR September Savoring and share four somethings with me in the comments! Meet me back here at the end of October for more joyful somethings!
Donna, I always enjoy your end-of-month themes and musings In this month’s post, hearing the progress your granddaughter is making was so encouraging! What an answer to prayer! I am happy you and your husband are getting more time with her and opportunities to help your daughter.
Thank you, Jeanne for reading my updates! I appreciate you rejoicing with me over Grace’s progress, we praise God for His kindness to us!
Sounds like you had a good month, and I hope you enjoy every minute of your favorite season!!
Thank you Heather! I am already enjoying the beauty of autumn!
Enjoyed all of your updates, but especially touched by the delight of being able to have your granddaughter overnight! What a joy!! Visiting from SFS (late!)
Thank you Kym for stopping by and taking time to read my updates! I appreciate you and your kind words!
Donna, I loved taking a leisurely stroll through September with you. What a great month. So happy to hear Grace had a wonderful time with Pops & Gigi.
Visiting today from G&T
Thank you for joining me to celebrate my September Savoring Paula!
Donna, love your monthly updates. So nice to see all the blessings in your life.
Thank you, Deborah, I appreciate your kindness in reading!
Donna, how wonderful to read your Grace story! May this be the beginning of spending more time together and making memories! God is faithful!
Thank you, Joanne, we are rejoicing at Grace’s progress and hopeful for future times with her!
I always feel so calm and encouraged after reading your posts. I really appreciate Barb’s words of “But in love….pursue and cooperating with the Holy Spirit at work in our lives”. Sometimes I am very good at pursuing but not always with cooperating….It is a lesson I have been trying to learn the past 8 months. How wonderful that your granddaughter felt so happy and comfortable with you both without separation anxiety-a blessing! Thank you for sharing your faith,your heart. and your friendship. Sending love and a hug.
Thank you so much Kathleen for your kind words, I praise God my posts leave you calm and encouraged! Barb’s post was most encouraging, I just had to share! We are praising God for Grace’s improvement and more opportunities to spend precious time with her! I am likewise so grateful for your friendship, sending big hugs your way!
So glad you had a successful bedtime routine with beautiful Grace! That’s a win. And it sets up you for more fun times in the future…for all of you, including your daughter getting a break now and again. 🙂
Thank you, Lisa, this has been a long road with Grace and not what we expected as grandparents! But we praise God for our little cherub and look forward to more times with her in the future and finally being able to help our daughter get a break now and then too!
Oh, Grace’s story is beautiful! I celebrate this victory with you!! God is good.
Thank you so much Cindy! It has been a long road we did not expect! God is Indeed good!
I enjoyed your updates. I always appreciate Barbara’s posts too, and I’m so glad that Grace was able to enjoy her night with you and that anxiety wasn’t a problem.
Thank you, Lesley for savoring my updates with me! Barbara’s post is still blessing me, and I am grateful for her faithfness!
Love seeing these family updates from you, dear Donna!
Thank Sarah, my sweet friend for taking the time to read my post! Thank you also for your kind words and friendship!
Rejoicing with you, Donna, in Grace’s triumph over anxiety! May you have many memory-making moments together in the future! What a creative fundraiser! I’m so glad your organizational achievement of seasonal decor has led to extra enjoyment of your favorite season of autumn.
Thank you Lisa for rejoicing with me over Grace’s progress! This has been a long and difficult journey, but I think we are healing and finding hope!I’m looking forward to enjoying all autumn has to offer!