Living in Thanksgiving daily: How would your life change if you chose to do just that? Perhaps you might be more aware of the simple blessings around you, such as hearing a bird sing or holding hands with someone you love while watching the sunrise. Of course, we are also given many freedoms in this country, such as being able to exercise the right to vote. As you live in thanksgiving daily your heart may naturally turn towards God. You’ll become more aware of all you have, and soon you will live with an “Attitude of Gratitude,” a phrase coined by the current LDS church prophet, Thomas S. Monson.
Recently, I asked my good friend, Megan Dawson, who is a mother of 5 children, if she would talk to her kids about what they are thankful for. Raising a big family is no simple task! Yet, as she guides and loves her children, along with husband, Ben, they both realize the blessings are VERY great! Here are the delightful responses of the Dawson children:
Luke (age 11) said he is grateful for: “Family, books, and friends.” When asked what he thought the word “Freedom” meant, he thinks of the American flag.
Abigail (age 9) is grateful for: “Family and Jesus.” When she thinks of “Freedom” she thinks that people can make their own choices and don’t have to listen to others.”
Carly (age 8) is grateful for: “Friends, food and home.”
Hailey (age 6) is grateful for: family, grandparents and the temple.
Isaac (age 2) is grateful for: Jesus and his friends
These responses of gratitude are simple yet they hold great meaning with lasting effects.
As we consider our own blessings and the joy we receive from them -FAMILY- may be at the top of the list. And being away from those loved ones can prove to be very difficult, especially during the holidays.
For Officer Aaron DeHart, having been involved with the U.S. Army for 7 years and 6 years in the Reserves, knows just what it means to be miles away from family during special times.
DeHart, formerly of Harrisville, and also a good friend, is now living with his young family in Germany while he completes his schooling. Having been deployed for an entire year from October 2010-October 2011 to Mazar e Sharif, Afghanistan, DeHart tells us, “It wasn’t easy being away for the holidays. I am fortunate that I have only had to be away from them once so far. Family is what makes the holidays so special. Not being able to be with them during that time gave me a chance to really reflect on how much family means, not just during the holiday season, but all year round.”
During the time DeHart was serving in Afghanistan, there was generous support given to the soldiers. A kind woman sponsored hundreds of soldiers and sent thousands of care packages overseas. “We knew her as ‘Aunt Joanne.’ She sent us many packages filled with treats and gifts that showed that there were people who were genuinely grateful and supportive of our military.”
DeHart also recognized that he wasn’t the only person missing his family at this time. He says, “Some fellow soldiers and I took opportunities to celebrate and did things like decorate our Christmas tree. We had Thanksgiving dinner at the dining facility and we had friends over to our warehouse most Monday evenings for movie night.”
When asked what freedoms DeHart is grateful for today, he responds with, “There are so many things we have to be grateful for…the mere fact that we can choose what we want to do on a daily basis. In Afghanistan, we did not have the liberty to come and go as we pleased. Our job was medical supply and with the resources available to us, we didn’t have to leave the base to do our job (for which I am grateful).”
DeHart tells us that, “So many of our freedoms we have are simple and yet so profound; we get to choose what we drive, what we wear, what we eat and what we watch on TV. We rarely have to wait in line to shower and the list goes on.” DeHart is grateful that with every holiday season since being home he is grateful to have his family.
Living with an “Attitude of Gratitude” everyday, no matter where we are, can enrich our lives greater than we can imagine. Try for yourself and see what it can do for you!
