Waypoints: 30 Days of Gratitude

This month, Moteventure turns its compass toward the quiet power of thankfulness. Waypoints: 30 Days of Gratitude is a daily storytelling journey through resilience, grace, and the moments that anchor us. Each post will be a marker — a pause along the path — where gratitude reveals itself in unexpected ways. From small gestures to life-altering kindness, these stories invite reflection, connection, and a deeper appreciation for the light we find (and share) along the way.

Every path has its waypoints. If gratitude lit yours, leave a note beneath this post.

The Letter Beneath the Floorboards

In 1892, a young couple named Samuel and Clara moved into a modest farmhouse near Keosauqua, Iowa. They were newly married, hopeful, and poor. Samuel worked the land. Clara kept the home. They had no children, but Clara kept a journal — a small leather-bound book she tucked beneath the floorboards of the bedroom when guests came.

The house changed hands many times over the next century. Families came and went. The journal was forgotten.

Until 2017.

A contractor named Melissa was restoring the home for a historical society when she noticed a loose board near the fireplace. Beneath it, wrapped in cloth, was Clara’s journal — still intact, the ink faded but legible. Inside were entries about daily life, weather, crops, and one letter never sent:

“To whoever finds this,
If you are reading these words, it means this house still stands. I hope it has kept you warm. I hope it has heard laughter. I hope it has seen love.
We built it with our hands and our hearts.
Please know — you are welcome here.”

Melissa cried when she read it. She framed the letter and placed it in the front hallway of the restored home. Visitors now read Clara’s words as they enter — a welcome from someone long gone, but still present.

Gratitude doesn’t always come from what we receive. Sometimes, it comes from what others leave behind — a kindness meant for strangers, folded into time.