Monday, November 22, 2010

Some things you CAN take with you...

This week, I am grateful for books. Well ok, I’m always grateful for books. I am, without a doubt, a nerd of the first order, but as I know a lot of other people who love to read and writ--and I do hold them in high esteem--I figure I’m in good nerd company.

The reason it’s coming to mind so readily now, however, is because of a quote by Richard G. Scott that I came across a few days ago: “After this life, you will be restored to that which you have here allowed yourself to become.” This is wonderful—after we end our journey here, we will be restored to what we’ve worked on. Basically, it sounds to me like we get to pick up where we left off.

I’ve often heard the quote that runs something along the lines of “you can’t take it with you when you go,” and I’ve always taken that as two-fold. One, the physical trappings here on earth don’t amount to much when we’re dead, and two, since all I can take with me when I go is what I’ve managed to put into my head, I’d better stuff it as full as possible.

Enter real life. Life has a way of intruding on the best of intentions, and the time slips by more quickly every day. I tell myself I’m going to learn about this or that, make a study of some author I’ve been meaning to get to, and it just doesn’t seem to happen. But as much as I do love books, there are lessons to be learned from those real-life experiences that suck up all of our time. I figure if I can somehow sandwich in book time with living, I should be good to go.

This is such a fun time of year, and it’s a blessing, really, to take the time to actually count our blessings and be grateful for what we have. My list this year could probably stretch on for pages, and I think, in fact, that that’s exactly what I’ll do. I’m going to make a list of every little thing I am thankful for and see how long the list stretches.

I challenge you to do the same! Have a wonderful, wonderful Thanksgiving holiday.

8 comments:

Courtney said...

What a great idea. My VT told me a fun tradition called a thankful banner. They would string up this banner every year and their family would write on it what they were thankful for and then add onto it year after year, adding paper to make it longer as they went. She said they have had it for so many years and it is fun to see how what they are thankful for changes year after year.

Unknown said...

Nancy I love this, for one you know that I also love books,two I have so much to be thankful for it would be great to start writing it daow. You are one of the things I am thankful for. You are smart and fun and someone I enjoy spending time with.

Nancy Campbell Allen said...

Courtney, what a great idea! I think we might do a banner! At least a family book or something...

Lydia, you just made me tear up, for real. I am grateful for you, too. You are a bright spot with a smile and a sarcastic comment at the ready, which speaks to my soul. :-)

Love to you both!

Sarah said...

"Life has a way of intruding on the best of intentions." Well said. I needed that reminder.

One of my favorite quotes from Max Lucado is: "Gratitude. More aware of what you have than what you don't. Recognizing the treasure in the simple -- a child's hug, fertile soil, a golden sunset. Relishing in the comfort of the common."

Happy Thanksgiving to you, too!

Nicole said...

Amen to this post! I too have always felt the need to stuff my head with knowledge that I can take with me! And yes life, gets in the way of the best intentions. But I also have a sincere hope that all the moments I have forgotten and wish I could recall with clarity, (like Ethan's first christmas that we lost 3 rolls of film about) will be remembered with perfectly since I know it is "in there..." ...somewhere.

Nancy Campbell Allen said...

Amen, Sarah and Nicole. Sarah, those quotes are awesome. Thank you for sharing! And Nicole, I wish I had instant recall of everything...so true...it IS in there somewhere...

Roybn said...

Thanks, I needed to be reminded of these things today. Sometimes life seems to beat us down over and over, no matter how hard we try to move forward in a positive way. We start to have the "poor me" syndrome, which I have fallen into in a big way lately. Time to count my blessings and my spiritual riches.

Gwen Mangelson said...

would you please share where you got this quote?
I have googled it but cannot find it exactly as you stated it
The reason it’s coming to mind so readily now, however, is because of a quote by Richard G. Scott that I came across a few days ago:
“After this life, you will be restored to that which you have here allowed yourself to become.”

thanks!!!