What I’m Thankful For

What I’m Thankful For

There are so many things for us to be thankful for. As a society we simply aren’t thankful enough. There are so many things we have come to expect and as a result we don’t often think about being thankful for them too often. We expect indoor heat. We expect electric light. We expect clean water. We expect our electronics to work. We expect to be able to get around whenever we want.  And we’re given what we expect so frequently that we forget to give thanks for them as blessings.  Still other times, our blessings are disguised as something else…like a removal of the things we take for granted.

Recently we had a vicious wind storm sweep through the Northwest. We were personally  fortunate to not have lost our power or get hurt, but hundreds of thousands of households were without power and thousands remain without power even as I write this. Some were flooded in, trapped by trees, unable to get to work or go to the store. Life slowed a bit.

A few weeks ago Jonathan was saying again how we should get a new roof. He has actually said it a few times in recent years. But he mentioned it again. And guess what?  The storm ripped a large percentage of our shingles.  One of our A-MA-ZING neighbors then kindly pointed out that we should call the insurance company. Our neighborhood was built in 2002, and ours was a 20-year roof.  I have to say, “smart neighbor!” Not that we wanted a wind storm, but we can see God’s kindness to us in allowing the storm. God used a series of inconveniences as blessings for us, including the provision of half of the funds for a new roof!

We may not always enjoy the storm, but even in the storm there is beauty. There is purpose to the storm. The storm shows the strength of the Lord. The storm reshapes circumstances. Sometimes we need God to change our circumstances because we are too afraid or complacent to change our circumstances ourselves.

So that gives you a glimpse at a few things for which I am thankful. Here are a few other of the MANY things I’m thankful for. Since my paper is too small, I’ll just give you a snippet. I’m thankful for:

• family who loves us.
• the great overall health of our family.
• a great church and amazing Body of Christ.
• a pastor of integrity and conviction.
• being able to work both part-time in a public school as a choir director and part-time at my kids’ school.
• caring neighbors.
• each of my three unique and amazing children.
• a husband of physical and emotional strength and strong character.
• a husband who is patient with me through all my quirks.
• salvation through the blood of the Lamb.

What things are you thankful for?

Have you read Feasting or Gluttony?