Be Thankful

In the hurry of this rush and busy life that most of us are trying to get back to NOW, it is easy to get caught up in the moment and forget what life is all about. Maybe we got so wrapped up in the busyness of life before the pandemic that we didn’t really think about it.  But now, many of us have had the opportunity to slow down and not rush around to the next thing (because there’s not been much going on!).  Has anything changed for you? 

            There’s a story I was told of a farmer who had lived on the same farm all of his life. It was a good farm with fertile soil, but with the passing of years, the farmer began to think, maybe there’s something better for me. He set out to find an even better plot of land to farm. 

            Everyday he found a new reason for criticizing some feature of his old farm. Finally, he decided to sell it. He listed the farm with a real estate broker who promptly prepared an advertisement emphasizing all the advantages of the acreage: ideal, location, modern equipment, healthy stock, acres of fertile ground, high yields on crops, well-kept barns and pens, and a nice two-story house on a hill above the pasture. 

            When the real estate agent called to read the ad to the farmer for his approval prior to placing it in the local paper, the farmer heard him out. When he had finished, he cried, “Hold everything! I’ve changed my mind. I’m not going to sell. Why, I’ve been looking for a place just like that all of my life!” 

            When you start identifying the good traits of any person, situation, or organization, you are likely to find that the good far outweighs the bad. Focus on what you have. What you have not will seem insignificant. If you focus on what you’re missing during this pandemic, you may not see your blessings. 

            You don’t have to wait for Thanksgiving to shower blessings of help on others. When we stop to reflect and focus on positives things that in turn gives us strength to help others in return. Tidbits for thought as you reflect this week:   

~If you have food in the refrigerator, clothes on your back, a roof overhead and a place to sleep…. you are richer than 75% of this world. If you’d like to help others who may be hungry, you can!  The Arkansas Extension Homemakers Council is raising money to provide 1 million meals. It’s part of our “Nourishing our Roots; Nurturing our Future” campaign to help fellow Arkansans. We’re partnering with food banks across the state to leverage our food buying power. Just $1 can help provide anywhere from 4 to 10 meals. Please consider making a donation today.  Your gift will go directly to the food bank of your choice and may just mean the difference between someone having a meal or going without. Go to www.uaex.uada.edu/ehc for more information. 

~If you have money in the bank, in your wallet, and spare change in a dish someplace….you are among the top 8% of the world’s wealthy. If you’re interested in the SOS Summer of Savings Family Challenge to save money, give me a call!  

~If you woke up this morning with more health than illness…you are more blessed than the million who will not survive this week. 

~If you have never experienced the danger of battle, the loneliness of imprisonment, the agony of torture, or the pangs of starvation…you are ahead of 500 million people in the world. 

~If you can attend a church meeting without fear of harassment, arrest, torture, or death…you are more blessed than three billion people in the world. 

~If you hold up your head with a smile on your face and are truly thankful…you are blessed because the majority can, but most do not. 

~If you can hold someone’s hand, hug them or even touch them on the shoulder…you are blessed because you can offer healing touch, even virtually.  Sending a handwritten note or card can be almost as good as a real, live touch.   

~If you can read this article, you just received a double blessing that should be passed on to others because…you are more blessed than over two billion people in the world who cannot read at all.   

            I hope you have a wonderful week.  Find something to be thankful for this week.  Reflect on what you may want to change in your life as a result of the down time of COVID-19. YOUR Extension office has many resources to help YOU to live well – Raising Kids, Eating Right, Spending Smart, Living Well.  You may contact me at the University of Arkansas Cooperative Extension Office - White County in Searcy for more information on family relationships at 2400 Old Searcy Landing Road, or 501-268-5394, or email me at kcullum@uada.edu.