Thanksgiving List

On this Thanksgiving Day, I have so much to be thankful for. I often think of the “things” I have, like food, clothes, house, car, etc. and I am thankful for them. I’m so blessed with conveniences here in the U.S. when compared to so many people around the world.

But this year I wanted to go further and think about some of God’s gifts that money can’t buy; things I don’t often think about and often take for granted.

So here’s my Top Ten list of things I’m thankful for.

1. Salvation – Number one on my list is the ultimate gift from God; that He has provided a way for me to be in His family through the atoning death of Jesus. I’m so thankful that Jesus is my savior, I can call God my heavenly father, and that His Spirit lives in me.

2. Hope – I’m also thankful for the gift of hope. When life’s circumstances get discouraging, we live in hope – that things will get better, that circumstances will change, that tomorrow is a new day. And the ultimate hope of eternal life in heaven with God and the reunion with loved ones who have died is an especially comforting gift from God.

3. Music – When I think about the variety of music we can listen to (and play or sing), it amazes me. I love the contemporary Christian music that plays on my radio station (91.3) as it keeps my thoughts Christ-centered throughout the day. But I also love the great classical music and the old hymns of faith. The gift of music with it’s various rhythms, tempos, note combinations, as well as all the instruments that have been created can set or improve my mood, and I’m so thankful that music exists.

4. Love – This is my way of showing thanks for my family and friends, but the fact that we can love other people is another gift from God. I’m grateful for the close relationships God has allowed me to create with both my family and friends, and I’m also thankful for the (different kind of) love for pets.

5. Colors – Every time I venture outside I’m overwhelmed by the broad spectrum of colors in nature. I’m thankful for the many shades of green on trees and plants, the bright blue sky and the shining sun, the brightly colored flower petals, the beauty of a morning sunrise or evening sunset, the various stripes and spots on animals, and the spectacular autumn foliage. I love the fact that God created a colorful world.

6. Communication – I’m also grateful for words and the gift of communication. From the simple “I love you” and “Thanks for being my friend” to the sharing of knowledge through voice, books, computers and internet, the fact that we can communicate with and encourage one another is a blessing.

7. Sight – I’m thankful God has given me the gift of sight. Although not perfect, with my glasses I can see fairly well and I love seeing the smiling faces of people I care about as well as the world around me.

8. Mind – I’m thankful for the ability to think, plan ahead, and make decisions. I’m thankful that I can form ideas, make predictions, deliberate various viewpoints and options, and come to conclusions. I’m thankful for the ability to remember good times and reminisce with friends.

9. Water – After traveling to South Africa and seeing firsthand how the scarcity of clean water affects people’s lives, I’m thankful for my easy access to water. We just finished a science unit in my second grade class dealing with the importance of water on Earth and we talked about how to conserve water. But I’m also thankful for the beauty of a mountain stream, the majesty of a flowing waterfall, and the steady rhythm of Lake Michigan’s waves. And the imagery of Living Water found in the Bible provides an added dimension to God’s gift of water.

10. God’s Plan for Me (Trust) – I’m so thankful for the assurance that God is in control of my life. Although it hasn’t turned out the way I thought it would, I know God is with me and I trust that His plan is best. I’m thankful for the places and people God has brought into my life and the experiences He has led me through. Although I sometimes worry about the future, at the same time I whole-heartedly trust in God’s promise that He will “never leave me or forsake me” and that “all things work together for good for those who are in Christ Jesus.”

For these gifts and so much more, thank you Lord.

Give thanks to the Lord, for He is good; His love endures forever. Psalm 118:1

Relax

The last two weeks have been very busy with school - first working on report cards and then meeting with parents for parent-teacher conferences. I enjoy meeting with parents as we talk together about their child's strengths and discuss goals for continued growth, but it does make for a very busy week.

And now I can finally relax a bit. It feels good.

My school books sit on the kitchen table, beckoning me to work on next week's lesson plans. And the backyard is again strewn with leaves after I worked so hard earlier this week to finish the yard work (sometimes I think the big, old oak tree just laughs at me as it waits to drop the leaves until after I've finished raking). The laundry (from two weeks) is in piles, waiting to be carried downstairs to the washer. And the vacuum cleaner is still in the front closet.

There's always work to be done. But today I'm relaxing. I'm reading a book. I'm checking out blog sites I haven't visited since summer. I'm playing my favorite Facebook game: Pathwords. I'm making spaghetti for supper. I'm sitting on the sofa with my dog cuddled next to me and reveling in the quiet peacefulness. No immediate pressures. No looming deadlines (at least not this weekend).

There's a time for everything. Today is a time to relax.

Anyone for a cup of hot chocolate?

Guaranteed to Make You Smile