A handwritten message tucked into a handmade card arrived just before Christmas to wish us peace, love, and joy for the new year. It was penned by a person who moved into our mountain community a year ago and since has become our house-sitter and companion for our four “furry” kids when we travel. He agreed to let me extend his  wishes to all you.

A Gentle World

By Greg Attaway

Alaska

For you I wish a gentle world, filled only with soft faces, kind voices, and generous, out-stretched hands.

For you I wish a forgiven world, where innocence sparkles on the good and the lovely, as well as the mean and ugly.

For you I wish a world so saturated with mercy that it becomes difficult to find fault with another, and also yourself.

For you I wish a world that is built upon a foundation of grace so much so that even the smallest of favors that comes your way become events of profound thankfulness and gratitude.

For you I wish a world where all hearts are so soft and open that the sight of a beautiful sunset can only be adequately responded to by simply weeping.

New Mexico Sunset over Manzano Mountains

When we meet someone or someone enters our lives, we don’t know if it’s just for a moment, for awhile, or for some greater reason. When we experience things, we’re not sure if it’s meant to be etched into our minds forever or just for the moment. But what if we took a moment before we responded to nurture a bit more gentleness?

I wish all of you a life full of wonderful moments.