Giving Thanks

The air is getting cold, the trees have become almost bare—it’s that time again—Thanksgiving is here. Lately my heart and mind have been filled with thoughts of home and family and the great many things that God has blessed me with.

I find it hard sometimes to get past all my selfish desires; I often get lost in the mundane daily tasks of life and allow my soul to be consumed by worry, regret, and selfishness. It’s hard to live a happy, health life constantly consumed by everything you don’t have. Haven’t you every noticed how easy you rest, how well you sleep, when you are truly happy and contented?

Rosemary Clooney prescribed a cure for such feelings, she sang, “when you’re worried and you can’t sleep just count you blessings instead of sheep and you’ll fall as sleep counting you blessings.” Counting your blessings is one of the best ways to drift into dreamland.

And so, every night for the past week, as I lay waiting for sleep to come, I have tried to reflect upon the greatest gifts I have been given in this life. At the top of the list I have placed the traditional Thanksgiving necessities: My husband, my immediate and extend families, the restored gospel, true friends, good health, freedom, a warm bed to sleep in, and food to eat.
Reflection has also led me to add: education, a good job, the gifts of sight and sound, and modern technology (communication and medical). And I must not forget some of those silly things that make my life so convenient like: indoor plumbing, microwaves, washers/dyers, cars, and tide pens.

I truly have been blessed. May I learn to be truly grateful of those things I have been given.