Smaller, Less Noisy Pleasures

Sunlight by Stephen Darbishire

"When I was on my feet, big boisterous pleasures
provided only fleeting satisfaction.

In a wheelchair, satisfaction settles in as I sit
under an oak tree on a windy day
and delight in the rustle of the leaves
or sit by a fire
and enjoy the soothing strains of a symphony.

These smaller, less noisy pleasures are rich because,
unlike the fun on my feet,
these things yield patience,
endurance, and a spirit of gratitude,
all of which fits me further for eternity.

It is this yieldedness that gains you
the most here on earth."

~ Joni Eareckson Tada ~