Rhonda Cagle: Chasing the tree of gratitude
Last week, my husband, Lorenzo, and I had the privilege of hosting our annual Gratitude Gathering. This annual open-house party has become a tradition among family and friends and is my favorite event to host.
The premise is simple. Lorenzo and I fill our backyard with cocktail tables, white Christmas lights, more than 100 votive candles and lanterns, and a dozen or so flower arrangements in all the hues of fall. Our hot tub gets covered in burlap and turned into a food buffet with plenty of finger food, desserts and a coffee bar.
The centerpiece of the party is a "gratitude tree" I fashion out of curly willow branches. Next to the tree, our guests find a basket of paper fall leaves, Sharpies, a single-hole punch, and pieces of raffia. Throughout the evening, guests take a leaf and write upon it something for which they are grateful, hanging it on the tree when they finish. By the end of the evening, the tree is full of sentiment and silliness — each leaf bearing witness to thankfulness for blessings big and small.
The morning after has become my own tradition, sitting quietly on the patio with a cup of coffee in front of the tree. I read each leaf and reflect on the joy of friends and family gathered in our home to kick off the holiday season with hearts full of gratitude.
I giggle as I read lighthearted comments from friends thankful for nicotine and term limits for politicians. I smile at the handwriting of children giving thanks for books, the coming winter break from school, animals and the dessert table. And my heart warms when I read heartfelt thanks for family, faith, health, the addition of new children and grandchildren, new jobs and provision.
Last week, strong, gusty breezes accompanied my morning after the ritual of savoring the richness of gratitude. At one point, the wind blew over my tree, sending gratitude to the ground. Leaves scattered and blew in the wind. Quickly, I put down my coffee and ran through the yard in my slippers, chasing down thankfulness.
I re-anchored the tree, repositioning it in a more-sheltered place. Then, I carefully reattached each leaf, realizing how important it was that every bit of gratitude was saved and positioned where it could be appreciated.
In that moment, I realized the metaphor I had just experienced.
Some seasons of life hold so much gratitude, it becomes low-hanging fruit, easy to grasp and appreciate. Other seasons, however, bring storms so severe, gratitude's very existence is threatened. In these moments, gratitude is knocked to the ground. And thankfulness scatters like leaves in the wind.
For me, I've learned gratitude is worth chasing after. It's important to go in search of what is scattered, and at times scarce. My ability to extend friendship and grace — to others and myself — depends on my ability to search for every snippet of thankfulness; recovering what I can, replacing what is lost.
Perhaps this is why our Gratitude Gathering is my favorite event to host. Each of us needs an opportunity to rediscover gratitude. In the company of friends and family, we realize just how blessed we truly are.
Rhonda Cagle is a marketing and communications professional. Join the conversation at RhondaCagle.Wordpress.com, or follow her on Facebook atwww.facebook.com/RhondaCagleWriter or Twitter @RhondaCagle1.