The snow had made the wheat stubble white.
The sky was dark & gray.
The drive home yesterday was breathtaking.
It wasn't clear & crisp.
It wasn't necessarily beautiful... but the 1st snow always takes my breath away.
It was snowing.
It was quiet.
It was cold.
As I drove along in my car with heated seats & defrost in the front and back windows, I truly didn't think twice what it would be like to live without the luxuries many of us take for granted.
My boys slept soundly, I sang along with The Eagles, and I watched the world around me turn white.
I thought about all the things I am blessed with.
I thought about how thankful I am for this life I've been given.
** did you know that people who think about things they're thankful for and list them or write them out are healthier & happier?? (just a little known fact)
anyway... as I drove along thinking of all of the the things that I'm thankful for, I started to shift my thoughts in a different direction and began to think about Thanksgiving as two seperate words.
Thanks.
Giving.
Oh, don't get me wrong...
I'm a thankful person.
I love to write thank-you notes.
I make a sincere effort to thank people who make my life better.
I appreciate everything given to me.
I am good at the "thanks" part of life.
but... what do I
give?
The second part of the word is just as important as the first... if not more.
My motto - Live Simply, Expect Little,
GIVE much.
AM I living that motto to the fullest?
Am I making a sincere & honest effort to
give my best to those around me?
Am I
giving generously?
Am I
giving without expecting?
Am I
giving without complaining?
Hmmm...
During the next month and a half, I'm going to make a
huge effort to
GIVE.
I'm going to
give my time.
I'm going to
give my listening ear.
I'm going to
give a hand.
I'm going to
give a hug.
I'm going to
give that which I would want to receive.
I'm going to
give my husband that back-rub he deserves.
I'm going to
give the woman in line in front of me help when her purse falls to the floor.
I'm going to
give my boys every opportunity I can to just "be" with them.
I'm going to
give my heart and soul to God... offering Him everything!
During the next few weeks...
Enjoy your time with family & friends.
Be thankful for the things God has blessed you with.
And remember to
GIVE!
(photo taken by Ronda at Meacham on 11.20.07)
