The end of hurricane season comes on November 30. No major storms blew through New Orleans this year, but they have in years past. As soon as we determine that the storm's path is in our direction, I ask two men in the neighborhood to put up the boards that protect our windows and doors. Even if the sun shines brightly, our house becomes a dark cave - for which I am grateful. That darkness indicates an additional layer of protection.

I show my gratitude to my neighbors in various ways. I always tell them thank you. However, true gratitude should be expressed in more than words. At Christmas, we give them homemade jellies and snack mix. When one of the men lost his job, I paid him to do some work around the house. I hired the other one to set up my web site. We invite them to dinner at our house or take a meal to their homes. We treat their children to cookies and popsicles.

The depth of my gratitude for my neighbors' work can be understood when you know how great my need is. You see, my 91-year-old mother and I share a home. Obviously, she is neither strong enough nor steady enough to tackle the storm shutters. Even at age 64, I am also unable to put up the boards because I am weak from the polio that I had as a child. If my neighbors were not kind enough to install them for me, our house would be much less safe during a storm.

Now I want to ask you a question: What showed up in your life recently that turned it into a dark cave? Did your parents refuse to give you permission to go somewhere all your friends were going? Perhaps they forced you to do something that you strongly opposed. Maybe it wasn't your parents. Did God close a door to a relationship? Did you change schools or move to a new home? So many events in our lives look like dark caves as they happen.

Unlike installing storm shutters on my house, we seldom know in advance that someone is protecting us from something much worse than the dark cave we face right now. I know you probably don't want to hear it, but wait a few years. Watch the lives of your friends who were not protected as well as you were. See the chaos and destruction that disrupts their lives.

If you can take my word for it, then tell the one who protects you "thank you" today. If your parents are protecting you, give them a hug, write them a note or print this article and show it to them. Let them know you are grateful.

If your protector is God - and He protects all of us - tell Him "thank you," too. Then take that extra step and O-B-E-Y Him. That's how God spells gratitude.

Lynnda Ell has been an active Christian for over 50 years She has three adult daughters and five grandchildren. She has had careers in accounting, direct sales, electrical engineering and writing. She lives and worships in New Orleans, LA. Check out Lynnda's blog.