My dad’s favorite Thanksgiving tradition was one that my brother, sister and I dreaded. Before the prayer, dad asked each of us to state one thing for which we were thankful.
My brother generally used this opportunity to say something like, “I’m thankful that Donna can’t talk right now because it’s my turn.” He actually prayed once that my tongue would fall out. I found that comment to be unnecessary until I listened to an old cassette recording we made of our family moving across country.
With three teenagers, two adults, a fat dog and a Coleman ice chest crammed in a Hornet AMC wagon, we drove for six days. . .
Our church friends who we were leaving had one request – they wanted a recording of our travels.
So, we got out the trusty tape recorder at random moments. Mom played the ukulele and we sang “You are my Sunshine.” Dad jazzed things up with the melodica while my brother drummed on the dashboard. But when silence loomed, I felt a need to fill it with a plethora of aimless words. The first time I listened to that tape, I understood my brother’s point. My tongue definitely should have fallen out.
But I’m grateful for that trip, for my family, and for those who just wanted to hear our voices. And I wish I walked around in a state of constant gratitude, but I don’t. Grumbling comes naturally to me, much like eating carbs. So here are some facts about gratitude that I am going to post in my office as a reminder that gratitude is always better than grumbling.
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5 Facts About Gratitude:
During this Week of Thanks . . .
Try to write down three things for which you are grateful. Deliver a thank you note. Get quiet. Have courage.
Focus on what you have, and try to discern if maybe, just maybe, it’s enough.
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