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An Excercise in Thankfulness
Being Thankful is not a new concept. It is one each of us can easily grasp. I think I have covered this subject several times on my blog, yet I am compelled to look at thankfulness from another perspective. Instead of thinking what am I thankful for, I will think of the things I am least thankful for and find the gratitude therein.
I am not thankful that my computer just crashed and I may or may not have lost all my data from the last six months, but I am grateful for a smart husband that trouble shoots, that has the brain power to analyze the situation, and the patience to work through it. I am thankful that we have another not so cool computer to use in a pinch. Plus, because I couldn't get online this afternoon I was able to spend more quality time with my family.
I am not thankful for not enough sleep, although because of this I am able to appreciate it more when I do get some good sleep and I come up with some great ideas while laying in bed wide awake listening to Skip sawing logs. I am not so groggy when one of my kids wake up in the middle of the night for some random reason, because I am already awake I can just pop out of bed and help them.
This may sound weird but I am not thankful for all the papers that seem to pile up everywhere in my house, but I am glad I have the eyes to see them and the hands and mind to sort them out. Stretching it ...maybe. Like I said this is an exercise in being grateful for even the things that drive you crazy.
I am not thankful for ANTS! This one is a little harder. What on earth could make me feel grateful for ANTS? UMMMMM...It pulls the kids and I into an ant killing team ready to kill an ant in a single bound.....I don't know if that is good...I will get back to you on this. If you can think of any thing, PLEASE... let me know!
5 comments:
One of the most moving and faith promoting books I have ever read is "The Hiding Place" by a Christian woman named Corrie Ten Boom. She helped Jews go into hiding during the Holocaust. Eventually she and her family were caught and sent to German concentration camps. Corrie's sister, Betsie was continually grateful during their horrible imprisonment. In one part of the account, Betsie in a prayer, thanks God for even the fleas that infest their beds. Corrie was of course incredulous. Some time long after that prayer, the sisters learned that their particular bunk area has been relatively left alone by the guards, allowing them to teach the other women about the Savior and Christianity because the guards were avoiding the flea infestation! (The direct account is so much better, read it if you ever get the chance.) I know this isn't exactly the same as your ant problem, but it is a wonderful thing to try and see the Lord's hand and the good in all things! Thanks for an uplifting thought. (:
I love that book also. We were talking about it in Relief Society yesterday. That is what brought me to writing about this subject. We are kind of on the same wave length:) We were also talking about how Thanksgiving is almost a non holiday now, which is too bad. We have soooo many things to be grateful for. Sometimes I just can't see them all, so I thought I would try this little excercise. Thanks for commenting!
I love this book too!!! :) I haven't read it since HS, but I too remember the part about being grateful for the fleas. I think I feel a reread coming on! I think I feel a book club selection coming on...! :) Thanks for the post Laurene-it is sometimes hard to see why things happen the way they do until you look back. Gabe gave a talk on Gratitude yesterday and I found it fascinating that 3 of the speakers (including him)talked about different aspects of the same 2 scripture passages (10 lepers and King Benjamin)-a sure sign I need to revisit those too!
Thank you for the scripture reference. Now I have my FHE lessons for this week and next week, Perfect!I think I maay reread this book too. I know it is somewhere packed in a box. I may have to organize somethings to get to it. One more reason to be thankful for this wonderful book.
Yes I have been thinking about the same thing since the adult session of stake conference! It is a powerful thing though. Thanks for your thoughts, I love reading your blog!! Stacy
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