As we approach the end of 21 Days Of Gratitude, I want to rally us all to finish well. It might just be me, but this is where I’d normally quit. The job is mostly done. I feel like I’ve gained whatever I’m gonna gain. I get it – no new surprises. On to the next thing. But remember, we’re dealing with scientific fact here. 21 days straight can form a habit that will change your life forever. Hang in there if you’re struggling. Keep going! Let’s finish well! (Start now if you want to join us. There’s no magic start date.)

 Today, I get to share a post with you from one of my favorite people on the planet – Youtube phenomenon and my dear friend, Anita Renfroe. Anita is hysterical (which is important for a comedian), but there’s more to her than a punchline. She’s also extremely smart and has one of the greatest hearts of anyone I know. We laugh because we relate to her every word, but she says what we wouldn’t think to say… or would talk ourselves out of saying out loud. I highly encourage you to connect with her on Facebook and Twitter. Her posts are among my favorites.

Don’t get me wrong – I like fine dining. I like a well-written menu with a kitchen staff that can make it a reality as much as the next girl. But if you put me in a good-n-cheap Mexican restaurant, and park my kids or grandkids within 6 square feet of me, with us all dippin’ and chippin’ and guacamole-in’, I’m just as happy as can be.

A few weeks ago, my husband and I took our two and three-year-old grandboys to our favorite Mexican dive. They have live music on Saturday nights, but because we travel most weekends for shows, we’ve never taken them there on a Saturday night, so this was their first time seeing the band.

You can imagine that when the mariachi band paraded themselves in wearing matching outfits with guitars, a violin and a piccolo trumpet, along with huge sparkly sombreros and radical loudness in a foreign language, our little grandsons’ eyes got wide with fear. As I was watching to see if they were gonna laugh or cry, I could almost see their little gears grinding in their brains:

Wait! This is where we get to dip the chips.
I’ve never seen a band here before!
That’s so strange.
I think I’m scared…
Hold on… wait a second… Is this scary or cool?
This is…. is… so… Awesome!

“serendipity” – n. 1). An unexpected pleasure

There’s a difference between a “surprise” and “serendipity.”  When the band entered the restaurant boisterously and unexpectedly, it was a surprise. But when the boys decided to enter in to the party, it became serendipity.

You could see the transformation in a matter of seconds. Fear turned to wonder almost instantly in their nimble, little, zero-baggage hearts. And when the band finally made it over to our table, the boys clapped and laughed as if they couldn’t believe they were playing just for us. They were especially delighted to stuff a dollar tip into the guitar.

Watching them got me thinking… Do I laugh as easily when I don’t understand what’s coming my way? Do I embrace the moment or run from it? How far is the distance between fear and wonder in my heart?

I’ve heard it said that, “Life is getting used to a bunch of stuff you never thought would happen to you”. That really rings true with me.  (In fact, maybe I said it! That’s the problem with turning 50 – I can’t remember if I heard it somewhere or just heard myself think it… So if you can’t source this quote, let’s just say that it’s mine…)

I feel like there’s something new to adapt to before I even get settled with the new thing from yesterday. Some of the new stuff is devastating, and I’m thankful we survive and live to comfort others with our experience.

But others are serendipities – these awesome, unexpected moments where a mariachi band shows up and brings a party to the table of your life. Many of us react with a very adult-like, “What’s with the noise? I’m trying to eat my chimichanga.” Others never even look up from their plates.  It happens here every Saturday night. Nothing to see here – it’s no big deal.

But not to my grandboys. To them, it was fresh. Unexpected. Not tired, jaded, been-there-done-that… They took it in with eyes and hearts full of wonder and trust.

That’s how I want to experience my life.

In this week of gratitude expressed, let’s ask God to give us childlike hearts – to shorten the distance between fear and wonder; between surprise and serendipity…

That we’d be willing to lay down our guards,

And quick to embrace the unknown,

Eager to celebrate the moment,

And give thanks in all things.