Day 244, October 14

Recently I read a (true) story about a man who "could not compliment anyone on what he was supposed to be doing anyway."  It struck me as very sad.  Sad for those worked with the man and sad for the man himself.  It seemed a very narrow and unproductive, not to mention unloving, way to live.

I was reminded of an acquaintance who lives in much the same way.  Kind words are as foreign to him as Russian or Chinese.  His life reflects that as his family pulls further and further away from him.  Obligations are met, but love is conspicuously absent.

Fortunately this man is the exception in my circle of friends and acquaintances.  There are those who speak kind words because they are kind, who care because they are caring, who love because they are loving.

So, for today, I am grateful for kind words and those who speak them.

Day 243, October 13

Last week, I wrote of our opportunity to watch General Conference, to hear President Monson and other leaders speak.  One apostle spoke on tithing.  His words touched me.  He did not preach, but, rather, reminded us of the blessings that come when we pay our tithes and offerings.

He recounted the scripture story of the widow's mite.  If you'll recall, the Savior spoke of the rich men who gave of their abundance.  Then a widow offered two mites, which were worth a farthing.  A small amount to be sure, especially when compared to the offerings of the wealthy men, but the Savior prized those two mites.

I beleive that the Savior prizes anything we give when we give with a willing heart.  He prizes our talents we share to bless the lives of others.  He prizes our energy when we give honest work.  He prizes our hearts when we love fully and unconditionally.

So, for today, I am grateful for the reminder of the widow's mite.

Day 242, October 12

"Small things with great love ... It is not how much we do, but how much love we put into the doing.  And it is not how much we give, but how much love we put into the giving.  To God there is nothing small." -- Mother Theresa

Yesterday I wrote about taking small steps--baby steps--in reaching our goals.  What more important goal could there be, aside from returning to live with the Father and His Son, than in giving love?  Professional goals, health goals, financial goals, pale beside the goal of giving love to the Father's children.

Even as I write this, I realize that I don't put much or give much to this all-important goal.  I've resolved to change that, to refocus my hours and my days and to repurpose my life.  Perhaps I'll report to you later how I'm doing with that goal. 

So, for today, I am grateful for the words of a truly great woman.  I am also grateful for the opportunity to refocus and repurpose. 

Day 241, October 11

"When you improve a little each day, eventually big things occur.  When you improve conditioning a little each day, eventually you have a big improvement in conditioning.  Not tomorrow, not the next day, but eventually a big gain is made.  Don't look for the big, quick improvement.  Seek the small improvement one day at a time.  That's the only way it happens--and when it happens, it lasts."  --John Wooden, one of the most successful coaches in the history of college basketball

I love this quote.  I love the idea that we can seek to be better, do better, act better with little steps--baby steps--each day.  Most of us can't make big, sweeping changes in our lives in one day.  It is the little things that add up, whether we are trying to get stronger, trying to write a book, trying to be kinder. 

So, for today, I am grateful for baby steps.

Day 240, October 10

"No act of kindness, no matter how small, is ever wasted."--Aesop, "The Lion and the Mouse"

Sometimes, I hear of the grand acts of generosity and kindness that others have performed.  There are the media stars who hold a concert to benefit AIDS research.  There are the people in my own community who have donated countless hours shoveling mud from the homes of victims of the flood.  And then there's me.

I certainly can't hold a concert (well, I guess I could, but no one would come) to benefit AIDS or other research.  And I can't shovel out mud.  (My shoveling days, if they ever existed are long gone).  So what can I do?

It's easy, even tempting, to give myself a pass and say, "You're way past the age where anything you can do will matter."  Then I recognize that for what it is.  An excuse.  A rationalization.  An easy out. 

I sat myself down and made a mental inventory of what I can do:

I can send a card to a friend who is lonely.
I can remember another friend's birthday.
I can offer a sincere compliment to a stranger who is wearing an especially pretty necklace.
I can pray for my friends and family.

So, for today, I am grateful for the things I can do.  (And maybe I'll forgive myself for the things I can't do as well.)

Day 239, October 9

"Get rid of anything that isn't useful. Clutter weighs you down in many ways."

(This is a quote by a 90-year-young woman who continues to live a full and productive life.) 

Recently, I've had the opportunity to consider the clutter in our home.  Nothing too big, just bits and pieces that have collected over 40 years of marriage.  Though I try to weed out things on a semi-regular basis, the clutter still keeps happening.

Two events have made me more determined than ever to rid our home of (at least some) of its clutter. 

The first:  Larry and I helped friends empty their basement when it was filled with water during the flooding.  We carried books and magazines, fabric and dolls, and a myriad of other things from their basement.  Many of the items were ruined and sent to the dump.  A few precious things--like a grandmother's journals--were carefully dried out.  When I came home, I immediately went down to our basement and loaded up several bags with books.  (You'll find this hard to believe, but I collect books!)

The second:  we're having some remodeling done in our home.  This means cleaning out kitchen drawers and cabinets.  I shook my head at all the stuff that I pulled from the drawers.  Who knew that so much STUFF could fit in one narrow drawer?  I went through said stuff and filled two bags to take to a thrift store.  I hope to go through it again and eliminate yet more things.

Clutter, like death and taxes, is always with us, demanding that we weed out the things that are clogging our lives.  When I am surrounded by clutter, I feel stifled, uncreative, and lethargic.  Clutter saps energy and positive feelings.

So, for today, I am grateful for those times when I can sap clutter instead of clutter sapping me.

Day 238, October 8

"With man it is impossible, but not with God.  For all things are possible with God."--Mark 10:27

Have you ever faced a task or a challenge which seemed insurmountable?  Chances are the answer is yes.  Do you wonder where to turn, what to do next?

I have.  And I feel overwhelmed, unequal to the task before me.   I fall down and doubt I can get up one more time.  Then I remember:  I am not alone.  Even when it seems that everything is against me, I know that I have an Advocate, a Friend, Someone in my corner Who will not let me down.   With that remembrance, I vow to pick myself up and try again.

So, for today, I am grateful that "all things are possible with God."