The Most Thankful Thing

I don't usually do this sort of thing on my blog...

Three times a year, the kids get to pick a book at school from the PTO. It is a RIF (Reading Is FUNdamental) book. Last week, they brought home their new RIF book and I finally read Lindsey's to the kids before bed last night. I had never seen the book, except the cover, and had no idea what it was about. Boy - was I in for a surprise. It was a wonderful story and actually had me in tears by the end. I would love to buy this book and send it to every mom I know, but that really isn't practical. So, I thought I would share it on my blog. If you have a few minutes, do yourself a favor and read this. I promise...you won't regret it!


One morning, I found Mama sitting real still, all by herself. Mama never did that.

"Whatcha doing?" I asked her.
Mama smiled. "I'm giving thanks," she said. "I'm thinking about my whole life and remembering all the wonderful things I have to be thankful for."

I asked Mama, "In your whole long, long, long life, what are you the very most thankful for?"
"Oh, that's an easy one," said Mama. "But you have to guess what it is."

I ran to get Mama's big scrapbook. I knew all her most favorite memories were in there.
"Wow, summer camp looks like so much fun," I said. "Was that your more thankful thing?"
"Summer camp was great. We toasted marshmallows and sang songs and slept in sleeping bags and looked for animal footprints."

"But even if we had splashed down waterfalls on hollowed logs and danced with bears in the moonlight, it wouldn't have been as great as my very most thankful thing."

"Mama, here you are with your soccer team. You all won a trophy! Was that your most thankful thing?"

"I had good friends on that team and I scored a goal once. But even if I had been the strongest, fastest player in the league, it wouldn't have been as wonderful as my most thankful thing."

"There you are playing your guitar on a stage. Were you nervous, Mama? Was that your most thankful thing?"

"I practiced a long time to be able to play that song, and I was proud to be in the concert. But even if I had become a famous rock star, it wouldn't have been as special as my very most thankful thing."

"Mama, here you are in high school. You were the editor of the yearbook. That sounds like an important job. I bet that was your most thankful thing."

"I loved being the editor. But if I had become a real writer and written the best-selling book in the world and made a trillion dollars, it wouldn't top my most thankful thing."

"You looked really pretty at your prom, Mama. Was that your most thankful thing."

"I danced until my feet hurt, and then I kicked my shoes off and danced some more!"

"The prom was exciting, but even if it had been a royal ball, like in Cinderella, my most thankful thing would still be much, much better."

"Was it your most thankful thing when you acted in that play in college?"

"It was a small part. But even if it had been the leading role in a big, important movie, and I has won an Academy Award, it wouldn't have topped my most thankful thing."

"I know, Mama! I know! You look so happy in this picture at your very first real job. Was that it?"

"My first job was super. But you know what? Even if I got a job as President of the United States, it wouldn't be as good as my most thankful thing."

"Oh, Mama, I figured it out. Here you are at your wedding with Daddy. You're smiling so big, Mama! That must be your most thankful thing."

"Marrying Daddy was truly a great thing. It could have been the best. But there's this one other thing..."

"Your most thankful thing must be awesome! It must be amazing! I give up guessing. What is it, Mama?"

"Just when I thought I couldn't be any happier, I held you for the first time. I felt your soft, sweet breath on my skin and your warm, tiny body against mine."

"And then I knew that nothing could ever be better, and that forevermore you would be my most thankful thing."

"Forevermore, mama?"

"Forevermore."