In the Spirit of Thanksgiving, I like to come up with a list of things/people I am thankful or grateful for because it helps me to keep things in perspective on the hard days. I have spent a few years on this list, improving it as I go. I encourage you to start a list yourself. It may not appear to be easy on the surface, sometimes we really have to dig into things to see the deeper meaning or the perspective we cannot see ourselves. Perhaps ask a few close friends to point something out that they see. Below, I share mine. Not everyones will look the same, and that is okay. If today you are just thankful to be alive, bask in that. I am thankful you are alive too!
1. I am thankful for my salvation-most thankful that it is a gift and that I don’t have to try and earn it.
2. I am thankful for God’s mercy and grace
3. I am thankful He loves me; no matter what
4. I am thankful He shares His wisdom and guides me in how/when to use it
5. I am thankful He loves me too much to let me stay the way I am and that He prunes me for maturing of character and faith; so that I can persevere through the trials in my life
6. I am thankful He has blessed me with the gift of encouragement to others so that I can be a light for Him into their seasons of darkness
7.I am thankful for a wonderful, supportive husband who encourages me and lifts me up with loving words and who God has blessed me with to share all of life with.
8. I am thankful for all five of our children; each of whom teach me something about myself I need to improve
9. I am thankful for the supportive community of believers that God has surrounded us with
10. I am thankful that my children and I have been reconciled; and that while we are processing this pandemic and the social consequences of it, we are all learning more about God and His will for each of us, teaching/rebuking/pruning us as we go
11. I am thankful for the lessons God is having me grow through. He allows me to come to it, He will walk with/carry me through it
12. I am thankful God has equipped me for new adventures to glorify Him in and that I get to be a part of His story
13. I am thankful that my transportation is Jesus driven
14. I am thankful for the patience and understanding of friends and family
15. I am thankful God is teaching me what it means to live His way and to put His will first; so that I can lead others (especially our children) by example
16. I am thankful for my good health and that God is allowing me the opportunities to get it straightened out
17. I am thankful God is giving me the lessons I need to grow in my faith
18. I am thankful for the safe space I desire in our home and with our family
19. I am thankful for God revealing my flaws to me so that I can make the necessary changes to become more Christ Like
20. I am thankful for the resources God has placed in my path to encourage healthy growth for me and replacing my poor habits with healthy skills
I am thankful to God for you. Because without you, His story goes no further and there wouldn’t be any meaning behind what I have been through and what I have overcome. I firmly believe that it is a crucial part of each of our stories that we are transparent in them and own them, that we willingly share the struggles and the victories so that others can see Him in them. Otherwise, it just feels like things are challenging for no reason. There is a reason.
YOU Matter. YOU are Valued. YOU are Loved.
