2008 Woodie Awards
A little lesson in gratitude
Ashley Moreland/Online Reporter
Issue date: 12/7/07 Section: Writers Outlet
- Page 1 of 1
Thanksgiving is over. Christmas is near. New Years will be here soon and the holidays will be over. Our stomachs will be filled and our presents will be put away-time to retire our attitudes of thankfulness until next November.
At least that seems to be the attitude of Americans. Perhaps we should take a lesson from the "have nots." It's humbling.
Over Thanksgiving break I went to church with my mom and sister. Naturally, with it being Thanksgiving, the sermon was on gratitude. The pastor told a story about a Christian leader who was visiting a Latin American country.
As the man was walking down the street, he saw a homeless boy and decided to take him into a coffee shop and get him something to eat. He ordered the boy a roll and a coffee for himself. He figured that after the boy got his roll he would run off, so after the man got his coffee, he sat down at a table and began to read a newspaper. However, to his surprise, the boy came up to him and said "thanks" before leaving the coffee shop.
Last weekend I went to Lighthouse Missions in Terre Haute, Ind. with my church to serve lunch to the homeless. I'm sure how I felt after that experience was exactly the same as how the man visiting Latin America felt.
Nearly every time I took a tray to one of the people, they looked up at me and said "thank you" with great sincerity. Some people even came up to me as they were leaving to tell me how much it meant to them to have people like me volunteering our Saturday mornings to help them.
I left the homeless shelter with a warm heart, feeling very good about what I had done that day, yet I also left feeling very humbled. I have my own apartment. I have running water and electricity. I have a laptop and cable. I have food to eat. I have outfit after outfit to choose from each morning. I have to admit, too often I take these things for granted; I forget that I'm lucky to have what I do.
I don't say "thank you" enough, and you probably don't either. The next time someone does something nice for you, think of the boy and his roll and say "thanks." The next time you walk into your warm home this cold winter, think of the homeless man receiving a tray of food with a smile on his face and be thankful.
This is the season where we remember to be thankful, but our gratitude should show every day of the year.
At least that seems to be the attitude of Americans. Perhaps we should take a lesson from the "have nots." It's humbling.
Over Thanksgiving break I went to church with my mom and sister. Naturally, with it being Thanksgiving, the sermon was on gratitude. The pastor told a story about a Christian leader who was visiting a Latin American country.
As the man was walking down the street, he saw a homeless boy and decided to take him into a coffee shop and get him something to eat. He ordered the boy a roll and a coffee for himself. He figured that after the boy got his roll he would run off, so after the man got his coffee, he sat down at a table and began to read a newspaper. However, to his surprise, the boy came up to him and said "thanks" before leaving the coffee shop.
Last weekend I went to Lighthouse Missions in Terre Haute, Ind. with my church to serve lunch to the homeless. I'm sure how I felt after that experience was exactly the same as how the man visiting Latin America felt.
Nearly every time I took a tray to one of the people, they looked up at me and said "thank you" with great sincerity. Some people even came up to me as they were leaving to tell me how much it meant to them to have people like me volunteering our Saturday mornings to help them.
I left the homeless shelter with a warm heart, feeling very good about what I had done that day, yet I also left feeling very humbled. I have my own apartment. I have running water and electricity. I have a laptop and cable. I have food to eat. I have outfit after outfit to choose from each morning. I have to admit, too often I take these things for granted; I forget that I'm lucky to have what I do.
I don't say "thank you" enough, and you probably don't either. The next time someone does something nice for you, think of the boy and his roll and say "thanks." The next time you walk into your warm home this cold winter, think of the homeless man receiving a tray of food with a smile on his face and be thankful.
This is the season where we remember to be thankful, but our gratitude should show every day of the year.
Viewing Comments 1 - 1 of 1
Laura
posted 12/07/07 @ 12:53 PM CST
very good story and a great reminder to everyone.
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