Gratitude is the Greatest Gift
A tragedy before Christmas took the life of a father and husband much too young. He was a hard worker and always willing to help where ever he was needed. He went to work like every other day except that on this morning he had let his wife sleep in instead of waking her for breakfast. He would never come home again. He was in construction and his scaffolding collapsed sending him to the ground. With severe head injuries and a broken spine his family had only a short time to say their goodbyes.
On Christmas morning his wife received an unexpected phone call from the kidney donor team. This amazing man had donated all of his organs and both of his kidneys had saved a life just in time for Christmas. They wanted to share this with a grieving widow to say thank you and in some small way help her know that even in this great sadness and tragedy came a miracle for two people and their families.
I get choked up every time I think about this. There are many who are taken much too early and this was an accident unforeseen by all. Yet, at times like these I realize just how important our loved ones are and how crucial it is to tell them how we feel and often.
This has me wanting to say thank you to all the people in my life and has inspired this months Make a Difference Challenge!
Make a Gratitude Tree
Choose a night this week and have a special family night. Discuss together how important the people in our life are, have the children name people who are important to them. Have leaves cut out and let your children color them or you could have them write the names of people they are grateful for on each leaf. Get them to think even beyond immediate and extended family to friends, teachers, coaches and so on. If they are younger then you can write the names for them. Have a tree trunk with branches drawn on a large piece of paper and have them tape up or glue each of their leaves on the branches. See how full you can get your tree.
Write Thank You Notes Together
Throughout the coming month take time every week to make cards together and write thank you notes to everyone on your tree. The kids will love to decorate cards with you, get creative. If they are old enough have them write a personal note or just discuss what they would like to say to each person. Then go together to mail them.
Make time this month for the Make a Difference Challenge because you never know when it may be too late to say thank you! You will never regret a kind word or kind deed done but you will always regret not taking the time to do a simple act that could make a world of difference.
Thank you to each of you for the wonderful job you are doing raising compassionate, caring kids. I know life is busy and time is always short, but taking time to make a difference in the lives of others will most definitely make a major difference in your own families life, I guarantee it!
