gratitude

My mom recently recounted a story that allowed me to have an 'a-ha' moment that I am very grateful for. We were talking about sub for santas that we've done throughout the years and she told me a story of one we did when I was little, when we lived in sugarhouse. there were these two brothers who were in our ward and they had some challenges and lived in a group home. My mom remembered them, as they were from her hometown and she said they had struggled their whole lives and their mom was sick when they were younger, so they were put into this group home. anyway, she said that she had gathered more information and collaborated with my aunt, who was still living in their hometown. My mother and aunt began putting the word out and received both material and monetary donations from people who remembered these boys. she said it was an amazing, wondrous experience, being able to purchase items for these boys and their roommates and to see the joy it brought to them almost daily throughout the time. This was a very simple story, one that is told in many variations, especially this time of year--it's nothing out of the ordinary, but something about it just hit me. It made me wake up and realize that I need to stop being so selfish. I need to GIVE rather than just worry about what I want or what I need. come on ash, grow up. It was a needed snap into reality. maybe I am growing up little by little after all.





I have a jar that I put spare change in throughout the year. It started from a church lesson many years ago, and since then, I have donated the money probably once or twice. the other times, i selfishly took it to the bank and deposited it or did nothing with it. this year, after this chat with my madre, I committed to myself that I am going to use that money to purchase gifts for someone on an angel tree. I need to go outside myself and GIVE. again, I need to kick this selfishness habit. I am going to go shopping next week after finals week and be happy to be providing happiness to someone else. It makes me feel good just thinking about it. I've never really done anything like this alone and I am excited. I was raised by a mother who always stressed the importance of gratitude and giving to others. it's time to act on something that I have been taught my entire life, rather than thinking I was an exception to this 'rule.' I am thankful for the good example that my mom is to me, and I am glad that she shared that story with me, so I can learn to be better and serve others.

images via google


xoxox
ash