Thankful Thursday ~ A cheerful heart

Happy Thanksgiving!  I hope that this year finds you with friends and family, enjoying the day.  I don't know what this past year has been like for you.  For many, it has been a good one and for some, it has been a really difficult one.  I also recognize that sometimes, holidays are hard.  They can stir up memories that are sad or remind one of losses.

That leads me to believe that celebrating Thanksgiving is more of a choice than a given.  Today - I choose to be thankful.  I choose to recognize that "every good and perfect gift comes from above, coming down from the Father of Lights, in whom there is no variation or shifting shadow."  

I am thankful for my family - my precious daughters and the husbands that the Lord so perfectly provided for them.  They make a great team.

I am thankful for the family I grew up in.  My parents are amazing and my brother is the best.  His wife and family are additional blessings in my life.

I am thankful for the Lord's leading in my life - the places we have lived, the ministries we have been able to be a part of and the many people we have been connected with in all these places.  I can not imagine life lived any other way.  

I am thankful for my relationship with the Lord - His Word - His continual work in my life to make me more like Jesus.  It's a slow process . . . but I'm walking in the right direction.

I am thankful for God's creation - His mountains, His lakes, His oceans, His trees, His skies -- all of creation sings His praises.

 

I am thankful for my church and the amazing people that I get to grow and learn along side.  

I am thankful for my neighbors.  They have become like family to me here in Chicago.

I am thankful for TX friends who live in Chicago - for Ashley, Aaron, Stacie and Beth.  We could have never dreamed that we would all live in this city at the same time!

I am thankful for the hard times over this past year.  Difficulties, trials and even sufferings allow me to identify with my Savior and to lean into Him all the more.

I am thankful for the chance to write down my thoughts each week.  I don't know if it benefits anyone else, but the Lord uses this blog to allow me to pull together what He has been teaching me and I cherish being able to look back at all He has done.

I could go on and on.  

On this Thanksgiving Day - may your heart be cheerful and may you continually feast.

Happy Thanksgiving!