Today, and Every Day, I am Thankful

Thanksgiving. A time to thank God for all the blessings in my life, both big and small. Of course, I thank Him every day, but on this day where turkey, football, and early Black Friday sales sometimes take center stage, I want to make sure I keep my Heavenly Father at the forefront of my Thanksgiving Day.

So, Father, today I thank You for my family. Lord, I have no idea what I’d do without them I thank you for the solid leading and support of my husband. For Stargirl, who is spunky and strong willed and has a good sense of right and wrong. For Bug and the way he makes our family laugh. And for Boo, our unexpected blessing. I thank you that this year she became an official part of our family.

I also thank You for our extended family. Parents, step-parents, aunts, uncles, brothers, sisters. I am blessed that we are all so close. I’ve never known what it is like to not have the support of extended family, and I thank You for that.

I am thankful for friends. For laughter and tears. For late nights over salad and iced tea. For deep conversations and continuous encouragement.

I am thankful for the rain. Even though traveling can be difficult in the rain, I’m thankful that we enjoy beautiful green landscapes that are only possible through the life giving water that falls from the sky.

I am thankful for our health. My diabetes diagnosis made me realize how precious our health really is. I thank you that our struggles with health have been minor to this point, and that the kids live active lives.

I am thankful for all the hard times in my life. It is through those times I’ve learned to trust You more. Through the hard times You have shown Yourself strong, and my faith has become stronger as a result.

And finally I am thankful for salvation. I cannot imagine how much Jesus suffered on that cross, and it amazes me to think that He would do so to save wretched and sinful little me. May I never take the significance of the cross for granted.

Thank You for my life, Lord. May it always be glorifying to You.

Amen.

Photo by Irina Patrascu.