A Grace-Full Life

By Friday last week, both Gracie and my cat, Mungo, were on my last nerve. I attributed this to the rainy weather keeping us cooped up indoors - or at the very least, encased in waterproof nylon to venture outdoors. So it was with some amount of joy that I dropped Gracie off at her West Salem farm for the weekend, while I made my annual pilgramage to Cannon Beach for the Dayspring Women's Retreat. Unfortunately, as I dropped her off with her pal Heidi, Gracie let out a series of seal-like barking coughs. I paused in mid-delivery of her. "I think her throat is a bit scratchy. Sometimes she coughs like this." I left her behind at the farm and headed to the coast. All day Saturday I expected a call to come fetch my Camille. Happily, no call came.

I missed Gracie (and Mungo, too) while I was gone. As much as I wanted a break from the daily demands both dog and cat place on me, I so enjoy those grace-fill moments. Of recent, it occurs when I'm sitting on the couch, Gracie is stretched out beside me and Mungo is asleep on the cushion behind my head.

The title speaks to a day, a week, a month, a life full of Gracie and full of God's grace. Two things I most decidedly need to be happy and content.