Blessed

Well, it's the last day of the month and I just wanted to squeeze in one last gratitude post.
I have a few things on my mind right now that I'm so grateful for.
We've been a little sick this week with the cold. So today, I left the boys home with Jon while I went to church--no fun for Jon, but great for me. I am so grateful to be able to attend my meetings again. Not being able to attend for almost the last two months was the pits. I love to be embraced by the spirit there, and without the boys today, I was really able to tune in to the lessons and partake of the spirit.
Many of the lessons today were on the subject of gratitude (go figure). Funny, that it's been on my mind even more than usual with it being Thanksgiving. I've been reading a book called Redemption Road by Tony Sorenson Brown.

It's set in Africa, and is about a woman finding her way back to the gospel. It's a beautiful story. What has really touched me though, is the background. The story of the people of Africa. I know it's a novel, and is fictional, but I know that what is written about this continent and it's people is true. I am astounded sometimes by how much I take for granted. Not having to boil my water for ten minutes before I drink it. Not having to worry about being bitten by a mosquito because it could be a death sentence. Instead, I gripe about small discomforts that would be warmly welcomed by these beautiful people. Oh, I only got two meals today-instead of my usual three? Darn! For many in Africa, one slice of bread a day is a feast.
I see those commercials on tv for the suffering children of Africa, and it breaks my heart. But do I ever do anything?
It's going to be a small Christmas in our house this year, and I'm glad. I'm sorry not to be able to give my kids' their every desire, but what we do have is infinitely more than so many people in our world.
I truly am so grateful for every little oddball blessing that I take for granted. I have SO MUCH. I pray I can learn to give more of myself to the world around me.