"Thank You for Trash"

Those four words came out of Kallie's mouth last night as she was saying our family prayer. Kids say some silly things but I don't think I had ever heard that one before. Kallie is a sweet girl but I can't say trash is something I am particularly grateful for. (It stinks and is sometimes the not funnest chore to take care of.) It took everything and more not to laugh, yet Kori and I both still did. I am pretty sure she was just looking around the room when that popped out because she said "Thank you for cups" too... like three times. Either way I started thinking about it probably more than what you would say is reasonable. Now I guess you could say that I am thankful for trash too, and I have said it, just not in those words. I would like to share two types of trash I am thankful for.

1. The trash that we have in our garbage cans.

When we have trash in our garbage cans that means we have been blessed temporally. For instance the empty bread bag and an empty shampoo bottle means that we have had food to eat and a nice warm shower. How can we not be grateful for that? I really like being able to shower and eat, as I am sure all of us do. I know I have shared my gratitude for those things. (Especially for a shower after camping).

2. The trash or trials we have to overcome in our lives.

One of the first things I think of when I hear the word trash is something that stinks. Sometimes life is trashy and stinks. Sometimes we have trials and things that are not very fun to take care of but that's kind of the only way we grow. And just like the trash in our garbage cans shows that we have been blessed, trials can do the same thing for us.

Trials and trash sometimes come and we don't expect it, well probably most of them come when we don't expect it. I have had my share of trials and I am sure I will have many more but I honestly can't imagine my life without those hard things. Because of some of those trials I found my husband who is the biggest blessing I have been given in my life. If I wouldn't have gone through hard things I wouldn't know the good things. If I didn't feel sad or burdened, I wouldn't know happiness, peace, and freedom.

There are so many different trials people can go through and I am grateful for the ones I have had. I have seen some pretty sad, difficult, and heart breaking things that many of my friends and acquaintances have had to go through and it amazes me how much stronger they become and happier they are once they have overcome and made it to the other side of their struggle. I can't imagine having to go through some of those things and I am even more grateful that I have been given the trials I have had because it is what was best for me. Each of us are given different trials because the Lord knows each of us so intimately that he knows what we need, what will make us stronger, better and happier. The thing is, we have to let him help us. We can get through anything as long as we let the Lord help us. Of course it isn't always easy. It's not meant to be. Sometimes letting him help us is the hardest thing to do during a trial. Maybe letting him help us is the trial, but he will always help us if we allow him to. Trials are there to build us up, not bring us down.

Lets be thankful for all the different kinds of trash in our life.

Here is a little video of Kallie! I am grateful for the trash we had after we made our treats! ;)