A friend at church texted me to ask if she could write “a little corner of thank you” in the weekly newsletter. She meant “letter” — her voice text messed up her intended wording! But I love that phrase. It started my mind turning toward all the little corners of thank you in my life.
I give thanks for the little corner in my bedroom with my dog’s crate. I’ve wanted a dog since my last one died in 2015. The timing was right this year and Ramona completes our family.
I give thanks for the little corner of the utility closet where my son’s taekwondo belts hang. Over the past year, he has earned several colors; all the belts hang in testimony to his hard work and accomplishment.
There’s the little corner of my pastor’s study with a split-leaf philodendron. This plant is actually older than me. It is a cutting from the mother plant that was cultivated by my mother. Her plant is flourishing; I nearly killed mine about five years ago when I moved back to North Carolina — I accidentally left it in the snow! But though native to tropical climates, this particular plant is made of hardy stuff. It bounced back and is now thriving in my office, which I feel is a good sign.
In a little corner of the woods near my house, there is a rope swing from a tall, strong tree. My children safely launch over the creek and back, squealing with delight. We discovered this swing during the pandemic and, during lockdown, visited almost every day, regardless of the weather. Now, the kids are back in school and regular activities — something else to be thankful for! But that corner of the woods provided a blessed change of location and connection to nature’s beauty.
I give thanks for a little corner at UNC Hospitals known as the chapel. Over the years, I’ve slipped inside to pray for my dear ones. In the back of the room, there is a three-ring binder to offer prayer requests. I have listed people by first name only, asking for healing or comfort. On subsequent trips, I’ve flipped backwards in the notebook and found that a chaplain had signed my page, indicating my prayer was offered. It never fails to touch my heart.
I give thanks for my little corner of the News + Record. A big thank you to Bill Horner III and the staff for this privilege of writing as a columnist. I know my topics range widely from week to week. Doubtless, readers find some columns to be more effective than others. But I always share a little corner of my heart, trying my best to put into words something meaningful to me. It seems good, even sacred, to slow down and notice what is little, rather than rushing past.
Maybe you, gentle reader, sit in a little corner even now. Wherever you are, thank you for reading. And Happy Thanksgiving.
Andrew Taylor-Troutman is the pastor of Chapel in the Pines Presbyterian Church. His newly-published book is a collection of his columns for the Chatham News + Record titled “Hope Matters: Churchless Sermons.”