I
thankful for this time of year. I love
the lights and the Christmas songs. The
food, the time with family and friends, the reminders that Jesus is the reason
we celebrate, and for the kindness that some people decide to share. Thanksgiving and Christmas always remind me
of childhood memories of going to my grandma’s house and my family would gather
with my cousins, aunt and uncle and enjoy great food, making Christmas cookies,
and presents, of course. I really miss
those times, and I’m thankful that my grandma was there to orchestrate those
activities during my years in Arizona.
I’m
thankful for the people I have gotten to know in Oklahoma. I’m thankful for the friends who have stayed
close over the years even though we’ve been separated by distance and lack of
time. I’m thankful for my church and for
pastors who are willing to preach the truth directly from the Bible. I’m thankful for my mom, my dad, and my
brother. It has just been the four of us
since we moved here, and although we’ve been through many rough patches, I’m
still glad to call them family.
I’m
thankful to have a job. There are many
people who live on much less and can still find things to be grateful for, so I
have no right to complain about the things I have been blessed with. I’m thankful that besides a cold or sinus
infection once in a while, I have lived a fairly healthy life. I still have the ability to see, hear, smell,
touch, think, breathe, run, and I could go on…there are many who have lost some
of these abilities or never had them in the first place, so I am definitely
grateful for 28 years of good health. I’m
also thankful that I was born in a country where we have so many freedoms and privileges. I’m thankful for the soldiers who have fought
to protect those freedoms and those who are still fighting or have given their
lives for this country. I’m thankful for
those who guard and protect us within our own borders: the firefighters, policemen,
paramedics, nurses, and doctors. Those
who carry out these tasks with honesty and integrity are America’s true
heroes.
I’m
thankful the beauty of nature. It’s fun
observing animals and their quirky habits, especially cats. I’m thankful for interesting weather patterns
and clouds. Thunderstorms and snow
always create an exciting day. I’m
thankful for the beautiful landscapes I’ve observed as I’ve traveled through
different states and the pictures I’ve seen from around the world. God has created such amazing sights to
behold. I’m thankful for the many
different ways people have to express themselves. It’s inspiring to experience the writing,
music, painting, or other forms of art that people have made.
There are so many day-by-day things that I sometimes take for granted. In my own selfishness, I sometimes forget what I have been given and only focus on what I wish I had. I'm thankful for the quiet moments to reflect on what God has blessed me with. I'm thankful that He sent His son to die on the cross and rise again to save us from our sins. Without God's amazing love and mercy, I would have nothing. I think taking the time to remember God's love and blessings is the most important part of this season. May God bless you during this coming month and have a Merry Christmas!
