Thankful!

When I was younger, like most people, the holidays had an air of excitement and mystery. I still love the holidays, don't get me wrong, but the materialism, the crowds, and the running around kinda bring me down a bit. I was starting to feel a bit of dread today at work when my co-workers and I started talking.
This week is the first real week that its felt like fall/winter here...in fact its down right freezing! I mentioned that I always feel sad when it first turns cold because I am reminded of my mom telling me about her students at her school that show up to school with no coats and their arms tucked inside their t-shirts because they are too poor for coats. She's also told me that some students go hungry during the school breaks because they don't have access to the school lunches and breakfasts which just tears at my heart. I couldn't imagine being cold and hungry much less being cold and hungry and a child.
I stopped and thought, how ridiculous am I dreading such minuscule things when I have been blessed with so much. So, we decided that we are going to do a Coats for Kids campaign and a canned food drive here at my bank so that we can do our part to help children and families who don't have the basics of warmth and food that we so easily take for granted. I know it may not be much but hopefully it will help a few people out.
All of this got me thinking how truly thankful I am for all the good in my life. I have an amazing family, a loving husband, a healthy and beautiful little girl, an amazing circle of friends, a job, a home of my own, the ability to worship God freely, and I don't want for really anything.
This holiday season my goal is to keep the meaning of the season top of mind and not let the hoopla and the crowds get to me as it is so easy to do. I hope that everyone can try and do the same and hopefully find some way to give back even if it doesn't seem like much. Every little bit helps!
Happy Thanksgiving!
Busy B :)