Before we ate, we each wrote down something we were grateful for and placed it in the "gratitude" jar. Following lunch we all got to know each other a little better through a clever "get acquainted" activity. Each of the sisters were eager to tell something about their companion they were grateful for, as well.
I paid tribute to my dear mother, Colleen Maxwell, who truly "lives in thanksgiving daily" (Alma 34:38). She is continually expressing how grateful she is for her many blessings.
My father once paid tribute to her when he said, "it reflects the basic set of her soul and permits her to persist and to endure well, because her view of life is positive and optimistic. She is not naive, however, nor unaware of the pains and sorrows that are part of this mortal experience. But she is deeply and persistently thankful for life!"
I have grown to be more and more appreciative of this thought of my mothers:
"Perhaps if we were to take a simple measure of how spiritually well a person is-it would be how much gratitude he or she feels for life."
Several years ago my mother made up a little Thanksgiving booklet full of thoughts, quotes, and remembrances. She gave one to every member of our family for Thanksgiving. In honor of her, I made some copies of this little booklet to share with each of the sisters.
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