if there's one thing i know

from my mother
i have learned
to find joy in small victories
like keeping strawberries alive
or finding a good deal.
I have learned
to be cautious yet loving of strangers and relatives
and also i have learned
to appreciate good food.

from my father
i have learned
to look for unexpected beauties
like one million birds moving at once off the marshland
or every morning’s new sunrise.
i have learned
to never let my dreams take off unless I am riding on their wings
and also i have learned
to make my own way through the forest.

from my sister
i have learned
to shut up and listen for a moment
like when we disagree
or during a song that has exceedingly good bass.
i have learned
to forgive gracefully and to go on loving people afterwards
and also i have learned
to thoroughly appreciate ice cream and chocolate sauce.

from my grandmother
i have learned
to take the chances we are given
like accepting a blind date
or picking up and settling down, again.
i have learned
to read good books and to eat bran cereal
and i have learned
that most of the best life advice is found in good housekeeping magazine.

from my grandfather
i have learned
to go on new adventures
like learning to sail
or traveling to the rockies to see a bike race.
i have learned
to always give of myself and to keep my door wide open
and also i have learned
to thrive in a new country with only “beer” and “hamburger” in my vocabulary.

from my opa and oma
i have learned
to persevere in any situation
like being separated from true love
or getting through slow season at the bakery
i have learned
to be light-hearted and ready to catch a baked potato from across the table
and also i have learned
to eat krokets and oliebollen on new year’s eve.

from my best friend
i have learned
to be confident in all things
like abilities and personal style
or in talking about the deepest places of the heart.
i have learned
to trust God’s goodness will meet needs and desires daily
and also i have learned
the importance of curry powder.