Ellen Michaud, author of Blessed: Living a Grateful Life, has poured small, exquisite blessings into my life. Her book is bursting with vivid pictures of life in rural Vermont. But as engaging as that is by itself, there are richer depths to explore in the short accounts of private moments, meaningful conversations, and community events.

Living in a northern rural area myself, I was glad to be reminded of the beauty and richness of life in the woods. Mrs. Michaud paints bright scenes of everyday sights and happenings and brings to light their worth, renewing my determination not to take such blessings for granted. Digging a bit in the garden, stoking the fire, polishing a silver teapot, enjoying a cup of coffee in the early spring forest—these vignettes are restful to my soul.

The deeper threads, though, caught me by surprise. For example, her essay “Cleaning House” was (I initially thought) a predictable piece about working up the self-discipline to head down the stairs and clean the long-neglected basement. Motivating, to be sure, as I have a long-neglected basement of my own. Ellen’s basement, though, contains a trunk of family mementos and photographs. She recounts moving from cleaning to reminiscing to contemplating her difficult relationship with her paternal grandmother, and from there to taking a first small step toward forgiving the long-dead woman. I was stunned.

As I read deeper into the book, I found my eyes tearing up more often than not at Ellen’s bits of wisdom, her determination, her solid faith and winsome manner. The book is a keeper. It has a new place of honor next to the coaster on my end table, ready to accompany a cup of tea during a break from my daily duties.

The fifty-three essays are in several sections, entitled A Quiet Space, Finding Meaning, Making a Difference, Reinventing Who You Are, and A Celebration of Friends and Family. Explorations of community and church life, the deep blessing of finding volunteer work that matters, celebrating the changes that come with advancing years…these themes and many more make the book a treasure. I do encourage you to pick up a copy to brighten your day (or someone else’s—it would make a lovely gift). It will gently deepen your appreciation for the blessings you enjoy, and you will perhaps find encouragement to step out of your routine and do something to help relieve a bit of suffering nearby or halfway around the world.

A copy of this book was given to me by FSB Associates.