A Minute of Thankfulness
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If you've been following me for more than a week, you know that it's important to me to remember to be thankful for all of the blessings I've been lucky enough to receive in life. My take on it is that every thing we have is a blessing, especially the 'simple' things we take for granted (like running water), because somewhere (maybe not even that far away) there is someone who is living without and would love to be in your/our shoes.
I read a touching report this morning that reminded me:
The First United Methodist Church in Charlotte, North Carolina, received a donation in their offering plate with the message: "Please don't be mad. I don't have much. I'm homeless. God Bless." In the envelopes was $0.18.
Let that impact you as you will.
The article says that the church shared the photo and the community has responded with generous support, but that the writer of the envelope is still anonymous. I hope the person will come back and receive the assistance. But I also hope the generosity of the community doesn't stop with the one homeless person who got enough publicity to tug at people's conscious.
“It is not happy people who are thankful — it is thankful people who are happy.”
Thankful Thursday
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Image borrowed from Daily Cup of Couture, via Pinterest
I have to confess, sometimes (ok, a lot of the time) I have to consciously remind myself to be thankful for all I have. It's so easy to get mentally consumed with the "wants" and "needs" and take for granted everything we already have. I know I'm not alone with this; in fact I think our consumer/materialistic/celebrity-obsessed society perpetuates this mentality of never being satisfied with what you have. Especially in this town.
On the one hand, striving for more can be a good thing: it's a motivator for improving ourselves and our conditions. But if we let that be our sole focus, we miss out on appreciating and enjoying all that we really do have (and if you're reading this, you have a lot. It's all perspective.) So I'm going to try to continue to increase my awareness of all the things I do have, and be consciously appreciative of them. They may seem silly or hardly worth the mention, but that's exactly the point. So many people have so little. We are so blessed to have whatever we do have.
I encourage you to do the same in your life. It will make you happier.
Three Things I'm Thankful For Today:
1. That I live in a dog-friendly neighborhood that is safe to walk my dog and toddler in every morning.
2. That I can treat myself, when I want to, to yummy pastries. (I may have to try this recipe.)
Image borrowed from love, pomegranate house
3. That I can start every day off with 5 minutes to myself in a hot shower. (I would stand in there longer if I could, but we're in a drought and my toddler awaits. What I get is good enough.)
What little things in life are you thankful for?
