No, YOU live a charmed life

The other day my sister overheard me telling Ada what we had planned for the day. "A run," I told her, "and then baths. After, we'll read some books and play until Daddy gets home. Then we have to go to the grocery store, to the bank, to the dry cleaners . . ."

"You live a charmed life," my sister told me.

At first I wanted to shoot back, No I don't! Charmed? What is charming about the spit-up smell that has taken up permanent residence on my clothes, changing diapers, dealing with tears and laundry and dishes and errands day in and day out? Why did I want to react this way? I swear there is something about human nature that makes us want to have the tougher life, the harder story. "No, myyyyy day was worse. No, myyyyy hurt is deeper."

But when I sat back for half a second, I realized that I do have it so good. This is what I've always dreamed of doing. I love spending all day with my girl, even if she might be teething and has bouts of fussiness. I am learning to find satisfaction in a clean home, a well prepared meal, an organized closet and a happy husband.

I came to understand "The Charmed Life" as "The Grateful Life." Anyone can love where their at (it just might be harder to love some spots in life than others). There is always something to gripe about. There is always the tendency to compare. But the reality of it all is that each of us can choose a charmed life by learning to love our circumstances.