Gratitude

Labor Day. The end of summer. Back to school. Picnics, pool, playtime. Reunions. Sleep. Holidays are wonderful, aren’t they? But I do have to say that Labor Day seemed to come quickly this year. It seems like Memorial Day, when my son came home from Iraq, was just yesterday. It’s been a busy and eventful summer, and I guess that’s what made the days go by so quickly.

Labor Day is one of those days when it’s good to pause and think about things; in those blank spaces between family fun and extra sleep. This Labor Day, I’ve been thinking about gratitude. Several months ago, I was asked to speak in Church about gratitude. In getting ready for that talk, I came to the conclusion that gratitude is different from just being thankful for something. To me it’s like thankfulness on steroids. If you’re truly grateful for something, you’re thankful for it, but you’re also humble about receiving it; because that something is so special and important that it’s a gift you can never repay. The only way you can acknowledge your gratitude is to accept the gift and try to give something back.

So what am I grateful for? I’m grateful for the Gospel. I’m grateful for friends and family. I’m grateful for children who think for themselves, and in whom any mother can be proud. I’m grateful for beautiful, healthy grandchildren who are the promise of the future. I’m grateful for an understanding husband, who has challenged me to become who I am. I’m grateful for special friends I’ve made over the years, who will always be a part of my life. I’m grateful for my parents; my mom who taught me to how to love and my dad who taught me how to serve. I’m grateful for the example of my grandmother, who taught me that women can be strong, and for the example of my grandfather, who taught me the value of hard work and the joy of play. I’m grateful for those I love and for those who love me. I’m grateful for my sisters, who are always there when I need them. I’m grateful that I’ve had the opportunity to serve my country. I’m grateful that the Lord gave me intelligence and talents, and the chance to live in a country where I can use those skills to the best of my ability.

The list of those things that I’m grateful for is long, this is only a partial list. I’ve been blessed. Sometimes, when life gets busy and difficult, it’s good to stop and remember just what you’re grateful for. It puts things in perspective. So, as this Labor Day progresses into a busy September and Fall, let me ask: what are you grateful for?

Why Blog?

Since I started this blog, I’ve had people ask me why I wanted to blog. After thinking about it for a while, I realized have a number of different reasons for deciding to join the blogging community. I’ve been addicted to reading blogs (mostly milblogs or writer’s blogs) for about a year and I’ve found that I’ve been adding more and more comments to the blogs I read; rather than just “lurking” and reading the blog post and its comments. I’m not so full of myself that I think I know it all, but I do know some things and think that I can add to the general conversation “out there.” So, instead of “lurking,” I’ll blog.

That’s one reason, and frankly, a surface reason, one I’d give to a relative stranger. There are other reasons, more “under the surface” relating more to who I am. You see, I learn something when I read blogs; something about the person writing the blog, something about the topic of the post, or something about how the post is written. It’s interesting to feel like you’ve been able to get to know someone you’ve never met; just because you’ve been able to follow that young man entering a war zone for the first time, see him confront the danger and boredom that characterizes conflict and watch him as he grows into a leader of men. It’s interesting to see the war on terror from the point of view of those confronting it; where it’s real, up close, and personal. It’s interesting to see the different ways that mothers and young wives write to offer support to other wives and mothers. You see learning never ends, and blogging is just another way to learn and to share ideas on a wider scale.

And that’s the final reason. Sharing. Sharing has always been difficult for me (just ask my sisters). I have lots of acquaintances and know lots of people. But I have few true friends; you know. . .the type of friends with whom you feel comfortable sharing the thoughts and ideas that make up who you really are. So, I thought if I started to share those thoughts and ideas through a (relatively) anonymous blog, it would get easier to open up to people I care about; kinda like how it’s easier to talk to someone when you’re riding in a car. So, consider this “blog-therapy” in a way; my way of learning what I should have learned in Kindergarten; how to share.