Every single day, I try to be aware of all that I have to be grateful for. But sometimes, like everyone else, I forget. Sometimes, it takes a story to remind me. This week, A LONG WALK TO WATER by Linda Sue Park reminded me of just how very fortunate I am.
Linda Sue Park is the Newberry Award winning author of A SINGLE SHARD, a writer who knows how to bring a story to life. In THE LONG WALK TO WATER, she tells the true story of Salva Dut, a Syrian refugee who now makes his home in my hometown of Rochester, NY. If you haven’t already read this moving story, I highly recommend that you do. It’s a story of hope and courage and perseverance—a story that will make you want to reach out and help those in need…and very grateful for the life full of freedom, food, clothing, and water that you have.
In that spirit, I hope we all can realize just how fortunate we are.
I’m so grateful to have the love of my family; grateful that we’re healthy and able to pursue our dreams; grateful that we have things many consider to be a luxury, like food, shelter, clothing, and clean drinking water; grateful for friends who have stood by me no matter what; grateful for this amazing writing community, and grateful for each day I get to write.
To those of you celebrating, I wish you a very Happy Thanksgiving! I’m so thankful to have each of you in my life too. 🙂 To those of you struggling, I hope you can read Salva’s story and know that if you have hope, you have all you need.
Be well. Have a wonderful week, and as always thanks for stopping by! I’ll be checking in with you again soon!
Jackie ❤
swirl and spark 