Saving Up Gratefulness . . .

Here is a little anecdote I ran across in my email. I thought it fitting:

A 92-year-old, petite, well-poised and proud man, who is fully dressed each morning by eight o'clock, with his hair fashionably combed and shaved perfectly, even though he is legally blind, moved to a nursing home today. His wife of 70 years recently passed away, making the move necessary.

After many hours of waiting patiently in the lobby of the nursing home, he smiled sweetly when told his room was ready. As he maneuvered his walker to the elevator, I provided a visual description of his tiny room, including the eyelet sheets that had been hung on his window.

"I love it," he stated with the enthusiasm of an eight-year-old having just been presented with a new puppy.

"Mr. Jones, you haven't seen the room," replied the nurse. "Just wait."

"That doesn't have anything to do with it," he replied. "Happiness is something you decide on ahead of time. Whether I like my room or not doesn't depend on how the furniture is arranged. It's how I arrange my mind. I already decided to love it.

"It's a decision I make every morning when I wake up. I have a choice: I can spend the day in bed recounting the difficulty I have with the parts of my body that no longer work, or get out of bed and be thankful for the ones that do.

"Each day is a gift, and as long as my eyes open, I'll focus on the new day and a new beginning. And I've stored away, just for this time in my life.

"Old age is like a bank account. You withdraw from what you've put in. So, my advice to you would be to deposit a lot of happiness in the bank account of memories. Thank you for your part in filling my Memory Bank.

"I am still depositing."


Lora's seven simple rules to be happy:

1. Pray to God that your heart be cleansed to free your heart from hatred.

2. Pray to God that your mind be cleansed to free your mind from worries.

3. Live simply. Appreciate the blessings that have been given.

4. Give more. Do at least three good deeds a day.

5. Expect less. Give from the goodness of your heart.

6. Don't forget to feed the most important feeding, from the Holy Spirit through God's word.

7. Be grateful for your blessings. If you cannot find something to be grateful for, think on those who are not as blessed as you are. The world is filled with them.

Have a nice day, unless you already have other plans.

- Lora