I have always loved Thanksgiving. Mostly, I hate to admit, for all the wrong reasons. I love that it marks the beginning of the holidays. I love that it means the world around us is about to be transformed into a beautiful array of golds, oranges, and reds. I love all of the fun festivities and decor. I especially appreciate that it means turkey and dressing and sweet potatoes will be a regular meal for about a month or so (which I also hate because I love it so much my pants get a little snug;)) Well this Thanksgiving I would like to take a moment to love it for the right reasons. I have so many things to be thankful for and I could use a nice refresher of how blessed I am this season.
I am thankful for my health and desire to be healthy. Every time I finish a workout and especially a tough run, I always thank God for the ability to do what I just did. I am also realizing what a struggle it can be to want to make healthy choices. I am still not where I would like to be in the discipline of eating healthy (I LOVE TO EAT;)), but I am thankful that I have the desire to work to get to that place and that I am aware of the challenge it can be. I pray God gives me discipline and a strong will to take care of the body He blessed me with.
I am thankful for a job I love. When I have had some rough days in the past month or so, I have had only one place that I find joy and encouragement and laughter, and oddly enough it is work. Whether it is from my morning greeting by the kitchen workers giving me a hard time about my still wet head in the 30 degree weather or the beautiful children who show love in the most precious ways, I am constantly reminded that I am blessed! I couldn't ask for a better work environment! Not many people can say they love their jobs, and I am so thankful that I can!
I am thankful for the people God has surrounded me with. I am blessed with a family who puts up with me on my bad days and has been my support and encouragement through the years. I am pretty sure families don't get any better than mine. I have been surrounded with Godly friends over the years, and I am incredibly blessed with 2 beautiful girl friends that are truly a gift from God. They have always been an ear to hear and a voice of Godly wisdom through so many ups and downs.
I am thankful to be a part of God's work in His church. I am thankful to be a part of a church family that is encouraging and challenges me in my walk with the Lord. I love seeing our church growing and stepping out in faith.
Most of all I am thankful for a God who does not run out of grace and forgiveness and love. He is my rock and my redeemer, my refuge and my hiding place, my strength and my joy. I am thankful that He doesn't see me for the weak mess that I see myself as, but He sees me as the strong and beautiful daughter of a King and that He seeks daily to help me see that in myself. I am thankful that He will never give up on me!
"Come let us shout triumphantly to the rock of our salvation!
Let us enter His presence with thanksgiving;
let us shout triumphantly to Him in song,
For the Lord is a great God,
a great King above all gods.
The depths of the earth are in His hand,
and the mountain peaks are His."
Psalm 95:1-4
