There is a true story of the old lady who lived alone. Her next door neighbour baked regularly for her fellowship coffee mornings. One day she decided to make a chocolate cake extra for her neighbour. When the neighbour opened her door, she was surprised to see her holding the chocolate cake. She said, "For me? Oh, thank you so much! You just don't know how much I appreciate it! You are so thoughtful for doing this! Thank you!"
Because the old lady had liked the cake so much, she decided the next week to bake her another one. When she took it over, the old lady opened the door and said, "Thank you so much. You are so kind!"
She took another cake over the following week. The old lady responded simply with, "Thanks."
The next week she took another cake over, and the old lady said, "You are a day late with that cake."
The following week, she baked her another cake. This time her neighbour said, "Try using a little more sugar and don't bake it quite as long. The top has been a little bit hard lately.”
The next week she was so busy, she was unable to cook for her neighbour. When she passed by her house on the way to the store, the old lady looked through the window and noticed she wasn't carrying a cake. She then stuck her head out the window and yelled, "Where's my cake?!"
It's so easy to get used to our blessings. After enjoying them for a while, we begin to think we deserve them. Then instead of being thankful, we complain. It's a process that occurs so slowly, we don't even realize it's happening.
I could sit here all morning relating similar true stories.
The real sadness is that it is a very short stop from taking things for granted to complaining about what we have or receive.
I remember one day out running with a friend. As we ran along the canal bank he stopped, bent down and picked something up. I watched as he unfolded it. It was a five pound note. I commented, “Your lucky day.” he looked at me and said, “If it had been you it would have been a ten pound note.”
Complainers so easily look at the negative side of all things. They do not give thanks, and they complain about what they have because it is never enough.
My goodness I am on my hobby horse these last two days. Forgive me and thanks again to all of you who day in and day out read this blog and take time to comment or get in touch.
I leave you with a little thought, and a question. The question first! Are you a you a thanker or a complainer?
And the little thought!
Complaining is like bad breath, you notice it when it comes out of somebody else’s mouth but not your own.
Have a thankful day. This is the way of the Tao.
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