Being Grateful - Nov 9th

 

This November, I have taken on the challenge of pondering blessings that I commonly overlook. Things I would certainly miss if they were gone, yet scarcely give much thought. My goal is to share daily one typically-ignored blessing for which I am truly thankful.



Nov. 9th:

It’s getting colder outside. Today the sky was grey, threatening snow, which got me thinking about the need for snow tires… which got me dreading the possibility of ice on the roads soon… which naturally (or not) got me to thinking about friction. The more I thought about it, the more I realized that I am really grateful for friction.

 

Whether you appreciate it or not, there are great advantages to friction. It enables the wheels of my car to move forward and not slip on the road. It enables me to walk for the same reason. Friction makes the brakes work so my car comes to a stop—you ought to be thankful for that! Friction allows me to stack my books high (books I intend to read someday) and keeps them from easily slipping off the pile. Friction allows me to write my notes on a piece of paper before typing up the final draft.

 

If you think about it, there are a lot of benefits to friction: it generates heat, burns up asteroids in the atmosphere, slows down runaway carts, etc. The world would be a different place without it, that’s for sure. I am indeed grateful for the benefits of friction.

 November 10th

Being Grateful - Nov 8th

 

This November, I have taken on the challenge of pondering blessings that I commonly overlook. Things I would certainly miss if they were gone, yet scarcely give much thought. My goal is to share daily one typically-ignored blessing for which I am truly thankful.



Nov. 8th:

I am grateful for vowels. Yes, vowels.

Have you ever thought about the difficulties that would arise if you were incapable of making the / a / e / i / o / u / sounds? Singing would be nearly impossible.   Do Re Mi Fa Sol La Ti Do   Try singing that without vowels! This fact hit me while watching The Tabernacle Choir on television. 

I was admiring their lovely harmony when it occurred to me that every sustained note was on a vowel. Every single one! After I attempted to sing a sustained consonant, I realized it was near impossible with most, and it was very unnatural with those consonants I managed to hold for a few long seconds. 

Vowels make music beautiful. They make language beautiful and simple to form in the mouth. Communication is soooo much easier and pleasant because of vowels. I never really thought about it before, but I am definitely grateful for vowels.

 November 9th

Being Grateful - Nov 7th

 

This November, I have taken on the challenge of pondering blessings that I commonly overlook. Things I would certainly miss if they were gone, yet scarcely give much thought. My goal is to share daily one typically-ignored blessing for which I am truly thankful.



Nov. 7th:

Did you know that if you had $10,000 you could trade it in for a million pennies? I know, right? Why would you want to? I mean, a penny is only worth 1/100th of a dollar. We tend not to notice them anymore, even when a handful are scattered on the ground. Why bother breaking your back to retrieve one? Well, let me tell you why. 

Regardless of a penny’s monetary worth, I am actually grateful for the coin. Yes, I usually take the time to stoop down and pick one up. I started doing this regularly after hearing a comment that, in my eyes, shone a bright light on their greater worth. 

"A penny’s value is in what it represents more than in the candy it can buy." 

I doubt a single penny can be exchanged for any amount of candy these days, yet it is valued by me. I read the words printed on the face—In God We Trust. This maxim is a reminder of the principles and beliefs our country was founded upon. It is a reminder of my own faith in a living, loving God. 

Finding a penny has become a good-luck charm of sorts, like finding a four-leaf clover, because it makes me stop and think about the things of real worth in life: things like faith, integrity, relationships, gratitude, happiness, friends, and family. Like the penny, these things may not have high monetary value yet they are priceless in intrinsic worth. And though I cannot take a penny or a dime or a dollar with me when I pass from this life to the next, I do believe I will take these other precious gifts with me if I am found in possession of them here and now. Pennies remind me of this, and for that I am grateful.

November 8th