Words to live by

As the sun sets on yet another all-too-short weekend, I wake up from my nap and realize I've spent virtually every moment since Friday either sleeping or wandering through the house trying to get my wife and kids to feel pity for me. I don't tolerate illness very well, and something as simple as a head cold is often enough to turn me into an overgrown, whining and altogether annoying child.

Yet in spite of the near-total waste of the weekend, my little journey through the germ factory has given me ample reason to smile. My wife made more tea and soup than I deserved and let my neediness roll off of her like water on a duck's back. Our kids helped her keep the house on an even keel as they periodically popped in to make sure I was still coherent. Our dog stayed by my side almost non-stop. Somehow, dogs know who needs them most.

Further afield, my mom and in-laws called to see how we were all doing. A friend made me a care package and talked me through her time-honored home remedies. The social media world crackled with connectedness, too, another sign that goodness exists wherever we choose to see it.

I don't have anything earth-shattering to share as I slowly emerge from the fog of the last few days. But I came across this quote in my archives that seems to summarize where my slightly compromised head is:

"It isn't the great big pleasures that count the most; it's making a great deal out the the little ones."

Jean Webster

Your turn: Do you have an inspiring quote you'd like to share?