This week, I read a talk given by President Thomas S. Monson of
the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints titled An Attitude of
Gratitude. In this address, President Monson shares a story about his old
Sunday School teacher, Sister Lucy Gertsch. He shares with how during the year
the class saved money to pay for a party, with deserts for refreshments and
many others niceties. Right before the party, a classmate’s mother passed away
leaving the impoverished, depression era family without a mother to tend the
children while the father worked. It was Sister Gertsch’s suggestion and the
class’s desire to follow the counsel of the Lord and donate their savings to
the Widower Donovan for his family’s support.
President Monson’s predecessor,
President Gordon B. Hinckley shared a story about he and his brother. They were
returning from errands when they passed a field with a man working in it. He
had left his worn boots on the road while tending his fields barefoot. The boys
decided to scrap the suggestion of hiding his shoes to prank him, and rather
place a silver dollar in each shoe. They watched as the man broke down, wept
and cried thanks to God for this wonderful blessing bestowed by angels. He was
in desperate need, and these funds would go far.
I have been around the world. I’ve
seen Western Europe, much of the Caribbean and Central America, and even parts
of the United States like Appalachia and the former rust belt seat of Western
Pennsylvania. I’ve seen real, third-world poverty. We have so much to be
thankful for in this country, and for the opportunities we have. So many would
not even recognize our problems: leaving a needed cell phone charger downstairs,
minty gum making ice water too cold, forgetting to add a caption to our selfie, cold sheets on my bed.
We have so much we can share, not just monetarily, but hope, faith and love. We
all should express more gratitude. It will be the biggest sin of omission among men. We can do better.
No comments:
Post a Comment