Day 221, August 7

The headline read "Entre(pray)neurs."  An interesting play on words. 

As I read the article, I grew more and more interested in the research study performed that revealed that entrepreneurs were more likely than not to believe in and practice prayer. 

Personal experience testifies to that as I recall when my husband and his partner started their own small business nearly 18 years ago.  They had two old computers, some secondhand furniture, and a few thousand dollars in savings.  The business struggled, but they kept at it and added a third partner--the Lord.

With prayer and faith and hard work, they made the business a success.  We ate a lot of rice and beans during those early years, but we not only survived, we thrived.

So, for today, I am grateful for entreprayneurs.

Day 220, August 6

Many times I avoid listening to the news, preferring not to hear of all the sad happenings in our world.  I know--that's immature,
childish even, to avoid hearing of all the atrocities, inhumanities, and simple meannesses going on.

Then I am reminded, usually by the acts of friends and family members, that there is goodness in the world.  There are kindnesses, such as that which I wrote of yesterday, and others that lift my spirits.

One such kindness was extended to me on my birthday last week when a friend "gave me a heart attack."  In this case, a heart attack was to "plant" red hearts all over my front yard with qualities written on them that this sweet friend saw in me.  (I told her she was reaching in many cases to think I had those attributes.)   The hearts were held up by plastic forks and appeared to my astonished eyes as a garden of red flowers.

It started my day with a happy and cheerful note, which carried through for days afterward.  And because my heart had been lifted, I resolved to try to do that for others, a case of serial kindness.

So, for today, I am grateful for the kindness of friends.

Day 219, August 5

Last week in church, a woman related the story about her 50th birthday.  (She's a child!)  Rather than having a party, she asked family members to perform "random acts of kindness" to celebrate her big day.

Her grown daughter told the following story:  She decided to buy a $20 Walmart gift card and give it someone who appeared to be in need.  At the store, she stood in the check-out line with her purchases and prayed to be led to a person who could use a gift card.  The daughter noticed that an older woman, standing in line behind her, had only a few basics in her cart--bread, milk, eggs.  The woman's clothes were worn and patched.  Instantly, the daughter knew that Heavenly Father had answered her prayer of finding the recipient of the gift card.  She paid for her purchases and bought a gift card.  She turned and gave it to the lady, then fled before the woman could respond.

Isn't that a great story?  How wonderful for the woman to want to celebrate her birthday by helping others.  And how wonderful that her daughter could give her the "gift" of extending a kindness to someone else.

So, for today, I am grateful for those who are kind.

Day 218, August 4

I recently learned some facts about bees and beehives.  Did you know that anywhere from 20,000 to 60,000 bees fill one hive?  Each bee contributes approximately 1/12 a teaspon of honey to the hive.  One hive produces a pound of honey. 

At first glance, it would seem that the contribution of one individual bee to be a paltry thing.  Take away 1/12 a teaspon and it would leave most of the honey in place.  However, what if several bees or a dozen bees or several dozen bees failed to contribute?  The result would be far different.

The speaker who gave this information then compared the contribution of a bee to our own contributions.  I am occasionally guilty of believing that if I fail to show up for church, or a work project, or what-have-you, it won't make any difference.  And then I realize that I am only rationalizing my way out of fulfilling my duty.  If I can add only 1/12 of a teaspons of "honey," that is more than what there was originally.

So, for today, I am grateful for bees ... and people ... who do their part.

Day 217, August 3

Recently my husband gave a lesson in Sunday School about apostasy.  (Guess what?  We're against it!)

Our church's history is, sadly, riddled with members who apostasized.  Fortunately, we also have valiant members who stand for the truth, despite persecution and threats.

Brigham Young found himself in a meeting where several prominent church members were plotting to dispose of the Prophet Joseph Smith.  He listened to their blasphemy until he could stand it no longer.  He related the following of the incident:

"I rose up, and in a plain and forcible manner told them that Joseph was a Prophet, and I knew it, and that they might rail and slander him as much as they pleased, they could not destory the appointment of the Prophet of God, they could only destory their own authority, cut the threat that bound them to the Prophet and to God, and sink themselves in hell.  Many were highly enraged at my decided opposition to their meaasures ... This meeting was broken up without the apostates being able to unite on any decided measures of opposition."

So, for today, I am grateful for those individuals courageous enough to speak the truth.

Day 216, August 2

A couple of weeks ago at a garage sale, I bought a light intended to mimic sunlight.  It is especially for people (like myself) who suffer from SAD (seasonal affective disorder). 

I am fortunate to live in Colorado, where we enjoy over 300 sunny days a year.  However, those days when the sun decides to take a nap are hard on some of us.  I crave the sunlight, even when I cover my pasty-white body with sunscreen.  (It is one of those cruel acts of nature that while I need sunlight, my skin burns to a crisp if I'm out in it for too long without protection.)

When I brought the light home and was reading the description of it, it occurred to me that the promise of sunlight was much like the promise of Sonlight.  I have referred to this idea before, that the sun and the Son each provide essential elements to our wellbeing. 
I have great need of both.  Without either, I go into a slump, sometimes even a depression.

So, for today, I am grateful for sunlight and Sonlight. 

Day 215, August 1

On a church marquee I saw this theme listed for the week:  "Careful words."

I immediately fell in love with that.  Would not our families, our communities, our churches, indeed, our entire nation and the world be better and kinder places if we were all careful with our words?

Frequently I am careless with my words, which translates into being careless with the feelings of others.  When I realize what I am doing, I try to do better, but, still, some of those careless words escape. 

So, for today, I am grateful for those who are careful with their words.