A thankful heart

I was running late. I had already missed my daughter’s bedtime by two hours. Now I was hoping to get home before my wife went to bed. It was a late night indeed. I was talking to her on the phone when I passed a Jeep in a ditch. I drove a few more feet and told my wife that I would be a little later still. I told her what I had seen and turned around.

I had a tow chain in my truck and in just a few short minutes, we had him out. The young man thanked me several times, shook my hand, told me I was an answer to a late-night prayer, hopped in his Jeep and drove off. I knew how he felt; however I was surprised at how I felt. I felt gratitude. Thankful that in some small way, I paid someone else back for pulling me or my kids out of a ditch in the past. In the scheme of my day, it occupied very little of my time, but the feelings in my heart lasted for a good long while.

I cannot say that I felt an overwhelming sense of spiritual power guiding me to turn around. I was driving the normal route that I take home and I normally carry a tow chain — a common Alaskan thing to do if you have a truck. I do remember thinking, “bummer,” as I drove by.

Another time, as my wife drove to a church activity, she came upon a gentleman whose front end of his truck had found the snowbank. He had his own tow strap out, all hooked up and waiting forsomething to attach it to. My wife backed up--never even got out of the truck--and pulled him out. He thanked her profusely and each went their own way. She too, felt gratitude.

In KJV 1 Chronicles 16:34, “O give thanks unto the Lord; for he is good; for his mercy endureth forever.” We live in a country that has countless opportunities, abundance like no other country, freedoms to cross borders, and to visit other places. We enjoy the freedom of speech and the freedom of religion. In fact, the first amendment reads, “Congress shall make no law respecting an establishment of religion or prohibiting the free exercise thereof.” Before freedom of speech and the right to bear arms, freedom of religion was the first thing our forefathers wanted, above all others.

As with the young man and the old sourdough, it can be a quick trip from frustrations and despair to gratitude and thankfulness. Might I suggest that we follow the example of Mother Tereasa who spent a lifetime helping the poorest of the poor in India. She said, “There is more hunger for love and appreciation in this world than for bread.” She also stated “Not all of us can do great things. But we can do small things with great love.”

As we make our way through our day, let’s look for one opportunity to lift, and make the day of another a little brighter: One intentional act, be it for a loved one or a stranger, can make a big difference. You could allow someone into traffic when it is really backed up. Or pay for the person behind you in a drive through. Look at their face in your rearview mirror when they realize that you did something totally unexpected for them. Shovel a neighbor’s sidewalk, call or text an old friend. Let someone know that kindness and love still abound in the world, in great abundance. You might be surprised what effect a single act of kindness has in the life of a stranger. They may end up having a thankful heart, just like you.

Dr. John Boston is a father, husband, grandfather, local physician, member of the Mat-Su Board of Trustees and Colonel in the Alaska Air National Guard. He believes in Christ and is a member of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints.