An Attitude Of Gratitude

Neil A. Anderson has said - “We live in an exciting time. Never in the history of the earth has our Heavenly Father given so much to His children. I fear that, with our abundance of luxuries, our automobiles and cell phones, our video games and GPS navigation systems, our lives of plenty and ease, we sometimes forget to ‘confess the Lord’s hand in all things.’”

Gordon B. Hinckley shared similar thoughts:  "Be grateful.  How thankful we ought to be.  How comfortably we live.  How very easy is life compared to what it once was. . . .  We have it so easy, so pleasant, so delightful.  We ride in cars that are warm in the winter and cool in the summer.  What a great season in the history of the world this is in which to be alive... [We have] the miracles of medicine,the miracles of science, the miracles of communication, transportation, education -- what a wonderful time in which to live.  Of all of these wondrous, challenging things with which we live, I hope you regard it a blessing to be alive in this great age of the world. . . .  I hope you walk with gratitude in your hearts, really. Grateful people are respectful people. Grateful people are courteous people. Grateful people are kindly people. Be grateful."

Joseph F. Smith said the following: "I believe that one of the greatest sins of which the inhabitants of the earth are guilty today is the sin of ingratitude, the want of acknowledgement, on their part, of God and his right to govern and control. We see a man raised up with extraordinary gifts, or with great intelligence.  He attributes his success to his own energies, labor and mental capacity. He does not acknowledge the hand of God in anything connected with his success, but ignores him altogether and takes the honor to himself."

Take for instance a farmer, who grows tomatoes, and is very proud of the bright red, juicy tomatoes that he is now enjoying.  He thinks he has a right to be proud, after all, he tilled the ground, planted the seeds, watered them, and nurtured them.  But has he given thought to who provided the seed, who provided the fertile soil, who provided the water, who provided the sunlight, and who provided the knowledge of how to grow tomatoes?  How much better to live with an "attitude of gratitude", and remember to count your blessings!

What Is Love?

I don't pretend to know what love is for everyone, but I can tell you what it is for me; love is knowing all about someone, and still wanting to be with them more than any other person - wanting to be with them forever!  Love is trusting them enough to tell them everything about yourself, including the things you might be ashamed of. Love is feeling comfortable and safe with someone, but still getting weak knees when they walk into a room and smile at you.  Love is expressing gratitude for those feelings every day!

America's Team - but not in Philly!

When I was 8 years old, my grandparents took me to IHOP.  They were giving away miniature football helmets with the purchase of an ice cream sundae, and wow, wouldn't it be cool to have my own mini football helmet?  Now back then I didn't know one football team from another, so when asked which helmet I'd like, I thought the silver one with the blue star was neater than the rest.  So I came home with my prized possession, and became a Dallas Cowboys fan.  Nothing wrong with that, right?  Well, that Christmas, a good majority of my presents were Dallas Cowboys related - a new winter jacket, ski hat, sweater, gloves... I thought I'd be the coolest kid on the block - maybe even the whole school!  

 

Boy was I wrong!  See, I grew up in Pennsylvania, near Philadelphia, and with the hometown Eagles being bitter division rivals, being a Cowboys fan was totally uncool. Sure, the Cowboys were a better team, making it to the Super Bowl in 1976, 1978, and 1979, even winning a championship by beating the Denver Broncos 27-10 in Super Bowl XII.  The Eagles would have their day in the sun though. After losing to the Cowboys in all but 3 games from 1967-1979, the Eagles finished first in the NFC East in 1980, and beat Dallas 20-7 to advance to their first ever Super Bowl, in which they lost to the Oakland Raiders. 33 years later, they are still seeking that elusive Super Bowl Championship ring, while the Cowboys have 5, and are promoted as "America's Team". The Eagles do have 3 NFL championships to their credit, but the last was in 1960, ironically, the year before the Cowboys came into existence.   Their rivalry has been one of the higher profile rivalries in the NFL over the past 3 decades, and it continues next Thursday in front of a national TV audience on Thanksgiving Day.   

The Day The Music Died

Many people say "the music died" February 3, 1959, when rock and roll musicians Buddy Holly, Ritchie Valens and  J.P "The Big Bopper" Richardson died in a plane crash near Clear Lake, Iowa.  Others, of course, remember Elvis' passing on August 16, 1977 as the day the music died.

For me, the day the music died was 33 years ago today - November 12, 1981.  Although I've lost loved ones since, no ones passing affected me as much as when Burl Strevel died. 

I credit him, his love, his friendship, and his music with The Blue Ridge Quartet for making me the man I am today.  Others have shared similar thoughts with me - "He was loved and he also was a GREAT MAN!!"  "Great Man and Great Entertainer..They don't make People like this anymore..."  "We could use a world full of Burl Strevel's !!!"  "Burl always had a smile and word for everybody. I have seen him take rough situations they were handed and turn them into winners time and time again.!" 

Thank you, to his family, for sharing this wonderful man with me, and with all of the Blue Ridge Quartet's fans.  My thoughts are with you today, and always.  May this last thought, from my friend Robbie bring you peace:  "I've said it 100 times...if Burl Strevel didn't make it to Heaven, not much use in the rest of us trying."

The music and memories live on - visit fellow fans at
Blue Ridge Quartet Fans, Friends, and Family

Honey Boo Boo

So I read where "Honey Boo Boo" got cancelled.

Alright, I confess...  I had no idea what "Honey Boo Boo" was.  Still don't, actually.  And all I knew about Boo Boo is he is Yogi's bear friend, who is more interested in pic-a-nic baskets than honey. 

But anyway, I decided I better do some research and get up to speed on this newsworthy event.  And pretty much, I'm sorry I did!  This Mama June character brings a new meaning to "trailer trash".  I wonder how many of Jeff Foxworthy's "You Might Be A Redneck..." jokes were written about her?  On second thought, no, rednecks might be offended by my associating her with them!  I won't even begin to get into the sordid details and accusations - I'll just say it's a good thing this "Mama" won't be exploiting her daughter on TV any longer.