Thanks-Giving-Day

Thursday, November 22, 2007

Thanks be to God for his indescribable gift! 2 Cor 9:15

Today as we celebrate Thanksgiving with friends and family, what are you Thankful for? As I tried to answer this question myself, immediately I think of all the blessings in my life. I also think about even some of the hurtful stuff He has allowed me to experience. On one hand it is hard to get to a place where you realize your hurt is part of the process God needs you to experience. On the other I have learned, being thankful is more about who God is than what is happening to me at any giving time.

If you are anything like me, I have some incredible positive things in my life, and some pain to go along with it. One particular Thanksgiving stand out in my life. It was the Thanksgiving right after hurricane Andrew in 1992.

We had just lost our home that August 24th and barely escaped with our lives. Our children were from ages 1-10, so we used the Thanksgiving celebration to really evaluate what we were thankful for... nothing like a traumatic experience to help you put things into perspective.

One by one we went around our handed down table asking the threaded question: What are you thankful for Jacob, Ashley, Jon, and Igor? Then it was the parents turn… first Grecy, then me. Collectively we all echoed the same thing; thankful for each other and thankful to God! Isn't that after all what Thanksgiving is all about?

While most of our kids are grown and gone to live there lives, I will always cherish this experience in my heart. Even though it came at a difficult time in our lives, it also produced the most sincere attitude from our hearts. Don't miss this opportunity with who you call your family/friends to do the same.

On this special day, the designated day we give thanks, thank God for his indescribable gift and take in all that you can with those around you love.

What are you thankful for this Thanksgiving? I would love to hear from you.

Happy Thanksgiving!

ia