I am Thankful for Neighbors

Brady and I have been enjoying our thankfulness jar. Monday after Brady returned home from school we headed across the street to rake leaves for one of our neighbors. We raked up 10 garbage bags full of leaves. Linda (a single woman who had back surgery about 3 months ago) came out as we were finishing and was thrilled and confused why we were raking her leaves.
It is always a great feeling when you provide service for someone. I believe that you get more joy then they do. Service always gives me a happy heart.

Brady kept asking me who told us to do the Thanksgiving count down jar. Why were we doing this. He makes me smile. I told him that nobody "told" me to do this, it was something "I" wanted to do for our family.

I feel it is important to have a grateful heart. Sometimes I think we are to arrogant about our blessings, instead of thankful for the goodness of the Lord. One of my favorite DVDs are the "Love Comes Softly" saga. I love how the pioneers were dependant upon the Lord for everything. We have come far with technology and luxuries that our hearts are hardened and not thankful enough for all the goodness in our lives and where it comes from - our Heavenly Father.

While I was reading Bakow Babble this week, Cherie's family did a great Family Home Evening lesson that will be ours next Monday. Here it is:

The lesson is trying to acknowledge all of the blessings given to us by our Father In Heaven. We read the story in Luke 17:11-19 of the Ten Lepers who came to Jesus to be cleansed. Only 1 came back to give Thanks.

We are often like the 1 who came back when we thank God for our blessings but there are often times that we are like the other 9, forgetting many of the things we receive from a loving Father.

So, for this month during our Family Prayers we are only going to be Thankful and not ask for anything. It is harder than it sounds and it really makes you think.

Brady and I decided to have our prayers be one of "Thankfulness" this month and have been trying hard to do this too. I want to rely more on the Lord for my day to day life and be thankful to him for his bounteous blessing he gives me. I have a feeling this will be an amazing month!