Once upon a time, there was a teenage girl who worked on her parents’ farm in the summertime while school was out. Being at that lovely age where everything her parents did was embarrassing, she was especially humiliated when her mother stood up during church one Sunday in July and said, for all to hear, “I sure am thankful for the cool breeze while we’re out working in the fields.” If that teenage girl could have melted into the pew, she surely would have. It didn’t help that her mama drew out the words “coooooool breeeeeze.”
However, many summers later, she came to understand that her mother was merely overcome with gratitude to the Lord for providing that cool breeze when the humidity was downright unbearable and there was no rain in sight to cool things down. Many of us here in Sampson County probably have experienced that same cool breeze that felt like a gift from God.
Coming out of the second driest March and April in more than 100 years, many of us — especially farmers, we’d wager — surely felt like dancing down a few church aisles when rain finally fell on our parched crops and yards over the weekend. Though it didn’t solve all of our problems, as a statewide burn ban remains in effect, it sure did feel nice to have a few drops falling from the sky for what felt like the first time in forever.
It’s important to express our gratitude for these positive things that happen in our lives. All too often, we grumble and complain about all the inconveniences life has to offer, like a leaf blower blaring outside your window when you’re on a work deadline, or a toddler who refuses to listen and runs off into the distance in the blink of an eye. How often do we give thanks when that leaf blower is finally put away in its shed, or the toddler returns safely, giggling and running into our arms?
We’re often quick to complain about things we don’t like or that irritate us, but how often do we express appreciation for the things that go right, without any issue? It’s always the same old story. People are far more likely to gripe, to focus on the negative aspects of daily life, than to highlight the good things, and give thanks for them.
The same goes for the news business, actually. All of the Raleigh area TV stations and newspapers from throughout the region reported on the shooting a few weeks ago at Eastover Terrace and on the woman in Roseboro who was allegedly doused with gasoline and set on fire. But, when we have a beautiful Saturday that brings out people in droves to celebrate springtime — i.e., BloomFest in Roseboro — where are the TV cameras? When community members organize a peaceful march to protest gun violence in our community, does it make statewide news? Hardly ever.
We’d argue that these life-affirming, good news events are far more fun to read about than some horrific crime, though on a statewide level, not as likely to produce the desired ratings.
Still, we hope that in your day-to-day life, you will take at least a few moments to express gratitude, when someone does something special for you, or even something as simple as holding the door for you to go inside a gas station. We hope that you will thank those who organize these positive events. We hope that you will give thanks to God for the little things, and the big things, too, just like that mama decades ago, even if it’s just for a cool breeze on a blistering hot day.