This morning, while journaling, I sat and looked up at my decorative shelves. Thinking of each piece, its symbolism, and their visually happy marriage moved me.

At the top is a vase I paid too much for at a charity auction. My husband wasn’t thrilled with my continued bidding, but I really liked it, and it was for a good cause. It is a pretty amber color and held beautiful bouquets from our garden for years.

On the middle shelf is a beautiful cloisonne plate, a gift from my aunt to my mother. Mom had admired it in the MOMA catalog some fifty years ago and was so delighted her sister remembered and put it under the Christmas tree for her. It sat prominently and beautifully on the living room mantle for many years.

At the bottom is a cloisonne bowl I purchased for myself about 25 years ago at an interior designer sale. It spoke to me, and I could not resist spoiling myself.

Today, when considering the whole, I realized that the assembly reflects generosity, thoughtfulness, and self-care. They are all bound together by the gold color of Divine protection. None of this was top of mind when arranging them in my new home. Two years later, I’m just beginning to appreciate their individual beauty and collective story.

It’s fun to think of all the disparate parts of our lives that can come together and tell an even greater story. It makes me curious to consider other pieces and look for their connections.

What pieces of your life are you viewing in separate lenses that, if gathered, might display the goodness in your life?

Mary