*IS IT BETTER TO GIVE THAN RECEIVE?*

If you think it is better to receive than to give, do the following:

One out of 5 American children live in poverty, lacking adequate clothing, give 2 cents for each pair of socks, tights or pantyhose each child has.

Are you thankful for the blessing of electricity? Give 2 cents for each light bulb in your house.

Most of the world's population lives beyond the reach of medical care. Give 10 cents for each box of bandaids in your house. Add another dime if they're not skin colored.

Are you thankful that you have a roof and doors to keep out the wind and the rain? Give a dime for every exterior door that you house has.

Are you thankful for your clothes? Give a nickel for every closet in your house.

Are you glad that you have indoor plumbing? Give a nickel for each roll of toilet paper in your house, counting all stored away rolls.

To people in refugee camps, even a sliver of soap is precious. Give a nickel for each bar of soap in your house. Give a dime for each container of pump soap.

Think of something nice you can do for a poor family in your community and do it today. Make them some homemade bread. If you can't put a dollar aside and be exceedingly grateful for all of your blessings.

Do you walk to your town to get a bucket of water for washing, drinking, bathing and cooking? Or, are you blessed with faucets that bring precious water to you? Give a dime for each faucet.

How did you get clean today? Give a dime if you took a bath and another if you took a shower.

Most of the world is starving while American's biggest concern is being overweight. Put in a penny for each pound you think that you are overweight.

What a blessing it is to be able to see and have eye doctors. Give a nickel for each pair of glasses your family members wear and don't forget sunglasses.

Many people in the world are blind and do not have eye doctors. Give a nickel for each person in your house that wears contact lenses.

Jesus loved the little children. Give thanks and a dime for every child in your family that is healthy, well fed and loved.

How would you like to live on the streets? Give thanks for your home and a nickel for every pillow in your house, even the decorative ones.

The comfort of a clean bed is an undreamed of luxury for millions of the world's poor people. Give a nickel for each clean bed in your home.

Did a cozy blanket cover you last night? Give a penny for each blanket in your home.

Aren't you glad you have people that love and think about you? Think of all the people that are buying you gifts this Christmas and for each one under the tree give a dime.

In this country, we are truly blessed!

* IT IS THANKSGIVING, AND I AM THANKFUL FOR *

For my grandkids who are not doing dishes, but are watching TV,

Because that means that they are at home and not on the streets.

For the ridiculous taxes that I have to pay,

Because it means I am employed and able to work.

For the mess to clean after a holiday party,

Because it means I have been surrounded by friends and family.

For the clothes that no longer fit or are a little too snug,

Because it means I have enough to eat.

For my shadow that watches me work,

Because it means I am out in the sunshine!

For a lawn that needs mowing, windows that need cleaning and things that need fixing,

Because it means I have a home.

For all the complaining that I have about the government,

Because it means that I have freedom of speech.

For the parking spot that I find at the far end of the parking lot,

Because it means that I am capable of walking and that I am blessed to have transportation.

For my large heating bill in the winter months,

Because it means that I have heat.

For the pile of laundry and ironing,

For it means that I have clothes to wear.

For weariness and aching muscles at the end of the day,

Because it means I have been capable of working hard.

For the alarm that goes off in the early morning hours,

Because it means that I am alive and have a reason to get up,

and finally,

Far too much e-mail,

Because it means I have friends and family who are thinking of me!

I am so truly blessed and I am thankful to God!

Happy Thanksgiving to my faithful bloggers!

*I AM THE CHILD*

I am the child who cannot talk. You often pity me, I see it in your eyes. You wonder how much I am aware of. I see that as well. I am aware of much...whether you are happy or sad or fearful, patient or inpatient, full of love and desire, or if you are just doing your duty by me. I marvel at your frustration, knowing mine to be far greater, for I cannot express myself or my needs as you do.

You cannot conceive my isolation, so complete it is at times. I do not gift you with clever conversation, cute remarks to be laughed over and repeated. I do not give you answers to your everyday questions, responses over my well being, sharing my needs, or comments about the world about me. I do not give you rewards as defined by the world's standards.. great strides in development that you can credit yourself; I do not give you understanding as you know it.

What I give you is so much more valuable...I give you instead opportunities. Opportunities to discover the depth of your character, not mine, the depth of your love, your commitment, your patience, your abilities, the opportunity to explore your spirit more deeply than you imagined possible. I drive you further than you would ever go to your own, working harder, seeking answers to your many questions with no answers. I am the child who cannot talk.

I am the child who cannot walk. The world seems to pass me by. You see the longing in my eyes to get out of this chair, to run and play like other children. There is much you take for granted. I want the toys on the shelf, I need to go to the bathroom, oh I've dropped my fork again. I am dependent on you in these ways. My gift to you is to make you more aware of your great fortune, your healthy back and legs, your ability to do for yourself. Sometimes people appear not to notice me; I always notice them. I feel not so much envy as desire, desire to stand upright, to put one foot in front of the other, to be independent. I give you awareness. I am the child who cannot walk.

I am the child who is mentally impaired. I don't learn easily, if you judge me by the world's measuring stick, what I do know is infinite joy in simple things. I am not burdened as you are with the strifes and conflicts of a more complicated life. My gift to you is to grant you the freedom to enjoy things as a child, to teach you how much your arms around me mean, to give you love. I give you the gift of simplicity. I am the child who is mentally impaired.

I am the disabled child. I am your teacher. If you allow me, I will teach you what is really important in life. I will give you and teach you unconditional love. I gift you with my innocent trust, my dependency upon you. I teach you about how precious this life is and about not taking things for granted. I teach you about forgetting your own needs and desires and dreams. I teach you giving. Most of all I teach you hope and faith. I am the disabled child.

*The last paragraph says it all.....this is what my adolescent patients have taught me and I am so thankful that I was a willing learner.