At Thanksgiving time, I always think back to my years as a young teacher. It was traditional to have students list all the things they were thankful for. But I was a think-outside-the-box teacher, and I urged them to think beyond what I thought were the obvious things to be thankful for.
Yes, yes, mothers, fathers, sisters, brothers, I'd think, as I listed their comments on the board. Sure, food and pets. Yes, of course, your house.
"But what ELSE?" I'd ask.
They were silent.
For these seven- and eight-year-olds there really was nothing else. What they were thankful for fit neatly into the box.
And I've come to realize this is true for me, as well. My box is full of the obvious blessings. What ELSE could I ask for? What else really matters?
The blessings outside my box--and there are plenty-- are mere frosting on the cake...or should I say, stuffing in the turkey?
The blessings outside my box--and there are plenty-- are mere frosting on the cake...or should I say, stuffing in the turkey?
Happy Thanksgiving. May your boxes be full. May all your thorns have roses.
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Some people are always grumbling because roses have thorns; I am thankful that thorns have roses.
~Alphonse Karr
~Alphonse Karr
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