The Nature of Gratitude

Kenmore, like any good Boston Terrier, shows his gratitude with a wave of his paw, a wag of his tail, and a little ‘woof!’ to show his friends that he appreciates them. It is very apparent to us when we have pleased our furry friends, but what about when we do something nice for each other? How do people show their gratitude?

Last Saturday, Kenmore and I had the great joy of spending the day with our whole crew at Grand Officers’ Night. The day began when the Grand Officers had their first “fun drill” rehearsal and showed how talented and creative they all are by contributing their ideas for this year’s drill. I had a bit of special help by Rebecca J., who helped me get everyone’s attention by serving as my “loud voice” (I discovered this past Founder’s Day that my loud voice isn’t actually that loud, while Rebecca J. could be heard across the entire camp, so I was happy she was there to help). Then the Grand Officers demonstrated their professionalism and hard work by rehearsing for our initiation. Kenmore and I are very familiar with these long rehearsals and we felt that it could not have gone better. These girls are one group of people who Kenmore and I would like to thank for such an incredible day.

After rehearsing, Kenmore and I sat down to dinner with all of our friends. We were reminded, in that moment, of how lucky we were to be surrounded by such kind and sincere people as our fellow Rainbow Girls. We were served dinner by Plymouth Assembly and could see how much hard work they put into making the banquet a success. They are another group of people who Kenmore and I would like to thank.

When we returned to the assembly room, we watched with pride as the Grand Representatives performed their first drill with their new jurisdictional flags. They did a fantastic job and we can’t wait to see what they do with the help of the Director of Grand Representatives! We feel incredibly fortunate that the Order of the Eastern Star has donated these flags. They make our Grand Representatives look like the proud delegates and brave explorers that they truly are and we can’t wait to see their work presented at Grand Chapter, the May Grand Officers’ Night, and Grand Assembly! Kenmore and I would like to thank the Director of Grand Representatives, the Grand Representatives who have worked so hard this year, and our friends from Eastern Star for this wonderful opportunity!

Throughout the meeting, Kenmore and I never felt alone in the East. When small matters came up (such as not having the list needed to give the count at the end of the meeting), we had friends who stepped in and helped us run a smooth meeting. We were fortunate that two members of Plymouth Assembly stepped in and served as our “courtesy candidates,” which allowed the Grand Officers to showcase their floor work and ritual. Kenmore and I would like to thank all of our friends who helped us throughout the meeting.

This weekend, we held our first-ever Rainbow University, which included classes in life skills such as changing a tire, public speaking, choosing a career, and sewing. We didn’t know how many girls would be arriving for Rainbow University, and actually ran out of diplomas! Three girls will be receiving their RU degrees by mail. Mom Merriman and Nana Louise discovered that teaching girls to sew a drawstring bag takes a little bit longer than 30 minutes, but all of the teachers did a wonderful job accommodating the altered schedule and we couldn’t have been happier with the results of the day! Kenmore and I would like to thank all of the teachers who dedicated their time and skills to Rainbow University and want each of them to remember what a difference their contribution has made to a group of girls who will now feel empowered to face the world and use their new skills!

Kenmore and I have thanked many people throughout this post. The truth is, however, that none of these people has been waiting for us to say ‘thank you’; they have done their good and kind deeds without looking for anything in return, and this is what we appreciate the most. We would like to thank our Rainbow friends for stepping in so selflessly and helping us when we needed it. It is heartwarming to belong to an organization that takes care of its members. Those who receive a ‘thank you’ this year might not realize it, but when others see their good and kind deeds, they are not just helping one person (or one Boston Terrier). Instead, they are inspiring a generation of goodness and kindness by contributing to the belief that there are selfless people in the world, which makes it a great place to be.  

Kenmore says:

“Shout out to Mom Perry! Tazo Passion Tea

tastes better in an Anchor mug!”