Top 7 blog posts of 2011--- My roll model practiced gratitude

“He is a wise man who does not grieve for the things which he has not, but rejoices for those which he has.”-Epictetus, Gratitude Quotes at http://www.abundance-and-happiness.com/gratitude-quotes.html

My mother practiced gratitude.  She and Dad worked hard to provide for their three daughters.  They didn’t often have money lying around in the bank, but they used what they had wisely.  They raised a big garden every year and would freeze and can vegetables and fruits for the cold winter months.  Mom knew how to sew; her daughters were among the best dressed in our social groups. 

It was a normal occurrence to hear her humming (and occasionally singing) hymns as she worked around the house and cooked supper.  We heard mom say statements like, “life is 10 % what you make it and 90% how you take it” and “you have the same clothes to get glad in that you got mad in.”  In times of plenty and times of little, Mom showed a positive, thankful attitude that she shared with the world and her family. She was a great role model for us.