As surveyors, we represent the abstract with maps or reports. The activity below may be able to help you and your family understand the reality of what it is to be blessed and to be a blessing to others. Modify as needed to fit your situation.
Thankful Tree – find a small dead or soon to be dead tree, say about 2 to 4 feet tall with lots of branches. Make sure it is bare and empty. Find some way to make it stand up in your house like a Christmas tree stand or by placing the trunk in a bucket and then filling with small rocks. Starting on the first of November, buy or make a pile of larger (3” or 4”), autumn colored paper shaped leaves that have a hole to tie a small string and room to write. You will need one for each person in your family for every day till Thanksgiving.
Each time you gather as a family, take a moment to have each person share one thing for which they are thankful and write each one on a single leaf. Every thankful leaf is to be different. Tie the thankful leaves on to the tree. At first the tree will seem bare and “dead”, but by the eve of Thanksgiving – especially if you have a large family or started with a smaller tree, you will have something amazing standing before – reminding you of all your blessings. If you miss a day then double up the next. Being truly thankful is not a once a year chance to offer a disinterested shrug. It is a daily or moment by moment act of your will.
My idea for a simple modification to this idea is to add a small bead (fruit) to the tree near the trunk, a different color for each person, 12 beads for each color. Start with these on the tree on the very first day. Each one represent how you think you've been a blessing to other. DO NOT share with anyone what each of the 12 “fruit” represents. It is for you and you alone to know and in the quite of your heart assign a meaning to how you believe you have blessed others. It does not matter how, who or what it was. It is between you and your conscience, or god . If you can think of more than 12 – good for you but no need to add more “fruit”
Can't think of any way you've been a blessing...? Really? That should be a warning to you that no matter how much you may claim to be thankful, you're probably are not. Don't share this with anybody else. It is private, and personal. Besides, now would be a great opportunity to get to work and undo your selfishness. Be a blessing, but not for reward. If you make a point of showing off, you'll have your reward in full, pathetic as it would be. “Don't let your left hand know what your right hand is doing”.
As the days pass, something simple but striking will happen. Your fruit will “disappear” behind your blessings. If anyone asks what the beads are, tell them that it is a reminder to be a blessing to others and say nothing else. If you do things as a family, assign a different color separate from individual "fruit" and talk as a family about how you help others – but keep it a secret within your family.
I would suggest an alternative of a “Thankful Vine” could be used if space is limited or dead trees are scarce. Besides, it could be even better since it can be stored and brought back out the following year to grow longer. The vine could be a piece a thick, rough rope with smaller ropes (branches) tied on to give enough room for "fruit" and leaves for each year.
Interesting post, kind of gets the humility gene going this time of year. Thanks.
On a similar note, I bought this house in high desert 7 yrs ago. Trees are a bit scarce, unless you want to water them. The previous owner planted some Elm trees (for some unknown reason) in the yard. This one never made it, but the birds love it for roosting. Mostly doves & pigeons, and some wierd black ones with an occasional sparrow looking thing.
I decided to leave the dead tree here so the birds would have a place to sit (instead of pooping on my jeep). Kind of fun to watch, and I have a modest bird feeder for them. Usually, I just throw bread & stuff on the ground so they can pick away at it, but still provide some feed.
I've also got a pomegranate bush that fruits periodically. I do water that one. Birds like that too.
I really like the family tree & bead concept though. Always a good thing to tug at those heart strings, just as a reminder of our place....
Cheers beerleggers & godspeed to your loved ones
Great message to spread, Thanks. 🙂
Every day that I wake up, before I crawl out of bed, I give thanks for being able to wake up to another day, how grateful I am for a warm bed, roof over my head, etc... And Every night before I go to bed, I go through my day and give thanks and gratitude for all of the good things that happened/that I have that day. NO Bad or negativity. I have found that when I do this, I fall asleep much easier, and have no nightmares. Must be something about easing ones mind before sleeping, creating good vibes in the brain, etc... :angel:
Wayne, wouldn't that would be something if you bought my uncles old house?? He had sold one in Kingman about 7 years ago. 🙂
