Guest Post by Nancy Story
Sometimes God gives us lessons in gratitude in unlikely places and even from unlikely people. Several years ago, I was dining in a local pizza restaurant with my husband, daughter, son-in-law, and two grandchildren, ages five and seven. The restaurant was busy, and the children were restless for the pizza to arrive. In an effort to entertain them and focus on something else, my daughter suggested we go around the table, and all say something we were thankful for. After all, it was the week of Thanksgiving. Our responses were typical and certainly sincere: thankful for our family, thankful for the autumn colors outside, thankful for the food that would be arriving soon, thankful for good health.
When it came time for my five-year-old grandson’s turn, he said, rather matter of factly, “I’m thankful for pipes.” This rather bizarre answer was probably prompted by the exposed beams and pipes of the warehouse- look the restaurant had. Of course, we all laughed at his answer, but his response has stayed in my memory. Sometimes we forget to be thankful for the less glamorous blessings that enrich our lives daily.
Pipes are amazing. Whether we are thinking about our windpipes, the pipes that bring us our water supply, or pipes that bring us beautiful music, pipes are their own kind of miracle. This Thanksgiving, perhaps we can get in the mindset of a child whose sense of wonder is still fresh. Let’s be thankful for the pipes.
Nancy Story