Take a minute...

After going to the Hot Air Balloon Festival tonight, I was driving home with the 3 kids I was babysitting and their cousin. The oldest boy started talking and it got me thinking.
He said that he hated his life, that nothing ever goes his way, that his parents loved his sister more than him and his brother, that they spoil her and he gets nothing. That he only had 5 friends and no one liked him and that if he could make one wish, he would wish to be an only child.

I sat in the front seat in silence, not knowing what to say. I knew this boy had more then what he needed, and that his parents did indeed love him very much. And I was actually jealous that you had 5 friends. I thought about this as we got home and started putting our pajamas on.

Then his sister got really upset and started crying and was really sad about what her brother had shared. She was crying and everyone tried to comfort her. So I had all the kids come in so we could have a chat.
A chat I thought the kids needed to hear. But I think I may have needed it just as much.

I reminded the kids how blessed they really are. That even though some have more then us, or better things then us, we still are blessed. That our families love us and would do anything for us. And our parents try and do that for us everyday. That we have more friends around us then we even realize, we just need to take the time to recognize it.

But mostly that we need to be thankful for what we do have. That there is someone else, somewhere we've only dreamed of, that is happy with less then we have.

This really hit me since I'll be leaving my house and family coming soon.

I am indeed blessed.

And I need to be thankful for what I do have in this life, that even though it isn't everything, it is enough.
I have an amazing family that supports me, helps me, laughs with me, deals with me and my moods, understands and that will always be there for me, for eternity.

I have a house to come home to each day. Even though the house will change soon, I still have one. All of my things will be there, and it has all the things my current house has. I even have a 3rd home in Logan that is waiting for me to move into. While it may look dumpy and run down. It will be a roof over my head and serve as a shelter for me for 9 months or more.

I have friends who love me and look out for me. Some are here in Sandy, some are in Logan, some are in different states, some are in different countries but I have them. I have people that are there to comfort me, that I can turn to, that I can confide in.

I have the gospel that brings me back to earth in moments like this where I can see the Lords hand in my life, all working in his perfect time. He has given me things I have asked for and some I didn't ask for but that I always needed. He keeps a watchful eye out for me and will never make me go through anything alone. He has shaped my life and so far it has all worked out.

So from now on I'm going to take advice from Rascal Flatts and;

I'm gonna stop lookin' back and start movin' on

And learn how to face my fears

Love with all of my hear, make my mark

I wanna leave something here

Go out on a ledge, with out a net

That's what I'm gonna be about

Yeah, I wanna be runnin'

When the sand runs out

God has given me so many blessings in my life and this is my one and only shot to show him how grateful I am for everything. So I'm not going to take anything for granted. I'll be thankful for my trials and hardships and I will serve. Serve those around me, my family, friends, and neighbors. I will serve the Lord in any way that I can.

I will be grateful for what I have.