By Joanne Peterson

The Beacon

One of my favorite authors, Anne Lamott, says she relies on two prayers. One is Help me. Help me. Help me. And the other is Thank you. Thank you. Thank you.

Ive adopted her prayers, as have many of her readers, and often they bring more comfort than more elaborate words.

Probably most people who live in Edmonds have ample reason to repeat thank you words.

For example, I write this from the warm comfort of my office, snugly protected from the chilly wind and persistent rain that seem to be hanging around, day and night.

This evening, I prepared dinner in my own kitchen forspecial guests.

Earlier, I walked to Petosas for last-minute groceries and put them on my VISA card. (My VISA card? My grandma would be overcome by the absolute irresponsible nonsense of her granddaughter going into a grocery store and paying for food with a credit card!)

Tonight there were ample leftovers (planned-overs, actually) to send home with my guests. My refrigerator still has lots of food in it. I am praying the Thank you. Thank you. Thank you prayer.

Of course, I often forget gratitude. Selfish, gloomy, pre-occupied I just forget.

Thanksgiving Day pulls me back from distraction and prompts me to pay attention: Do I take for granted warm shelter, ample food, clean clothing, soft quilts and a jillion other things that I have and millions of other people do not? Yes.

Thousands of people in Snohomish County have few of the comforts I enjoy. Hundreds of people in and around Edmonds suffer.

This minute, there are moms within a few miles of me who lack milk, blankets, medicine, diapers, soup, clothing, bread...

Some of those moms live in noisy, crowded extra rooms of relatives, who really wish they would move on. Some live in cars orunsafe, inadequate apartments.

By contrast, my family, friends and I live in luxury.

I wish each of us who has would choose to help those who have not.

One way: Donate year-round to the Edmonds Food Bank. And purchase gifts infant through teen for the annual Christmas Toy Shop, to be held Saturday, Dec. 12, at Edmonds United Methodist Church, 828 Caspers St., 425-778-2119.

The greatest Toy Shop need? Bicycles. (Last year, 90 were donated. So far this year? 12.)

Ask kids or grandkids whether theyd like the family to donate a bike. Discuss why your family might want to do so and how you could make that happen. Start a wonderful tradition. (I'm going to try this.)

New bike too pricey? Check thrift shops. (Volunteers will refurbish bikes.) Call 425-487-1846 or 425-771-4546 to have a bike picked up.

This is true: Nine hundred local kids and their parents scarcely dare to dream ofChristmas joy.

Help me. Help me. Help me.And then, I hope,Thank you. Thank you. Thank you.