Thanksgiving Reflections

 

Before the day gets going and turns into crazy holiday mode, I thought I’d share about the things I’m most grateful for! Seems fitting for Thanksgiving!

I actually would say I’m thankful for even the opportunity to express my thanks, to God, and to the people around me! And, I try to take that opportunity as often as I can, because I am grateful every single day, for my salvation, for my family and friends… I don’t want to take anything for granted. Each day we have is not guaranteed. Tomorrow could hold all kinds of craziness. I was thanking God for the gift of time earlier. You know, we are so close to WWIII coming to our porch, and I was praying God would thwart the plans of any enemies of our country, or any enemies plotting to expand the wars currently being fought. I just feel like, my own life is finally starting to turn around, and selfishly I want more time to enjoy it. Also, I do want more time for the church to continue to spread the Gospel. Which… I’m grateful that more and more the great commission is being fulfilled by people native to their country. Don’t get me wrong, it’s amazing when people sacrifice their comfortable lives here to go where God has called them to share, but someone from China is going to reach people in China and their surrounding countries a lot better than, say, me. I don’t know Chinese, I’m not as familiar with the culture or customs, it’s just… there are more barriers to overcome. But I do think we need to be obedient to wherever God calls us, regardless of how hard it may be. And I’m thankful for the missionaries that are obedient to go across the world and share the Gospel. We need both those missionaries to pioneer paths, and local believers to take over and plant churches like crazy.

I have this annoying cough that keeps hanging on. I’m even thankful for the reminder of how much I appreciate good health!

I’m very thankful for my mom. I do feel convicted that I went overseas and shared my frustrations about her with a bunch of strangers. I do think they are praying for me, but also, I hate if they got a bad impression of her. I’m not one to say mom is perfect. But, she does love me so much, and she’s tried her hardest to do the best for Seth and I that she can. It’s just hard now, she cannot even take care of herself. She thinks I’m moving out because I hate her. That’s not true. I’m moving because I want freedom to live my own life. That’s totally normal for a 41 year old to want independence from their mother! So… I have an idea of creating a tool to help me express my thanks to her… it will actually be harder to use than to create. But… it’s hard now because she doesn’t believe me when I say I’m thankful for her, even though it’s very true.

I am so thankful for the new friends God has sent me. Going through 2021 was hard. I lost a whole community of friends. I still haven’t talked to any of those people to this day. It’s just so strange. Part of me understands why they stopped being my friend, but part of me is frustrated with their reasons. Still, I cannot control them, and I think I had to move on from there to grow.

Anyhow, I have been blessed with a few new friends at least, some from Bible Fellowship at Calvary, some from Central Triad, some from the missions trip I went on most recently, and those who helped prepare me for the trip by doing Masterlife Together with me, one friend I’d met a few years ago but life got in the way, and we’ve been reunited. So… I’m just very thankful for these blessings, and look forward to God using them to help me grow, and likewise allowing God to use me to help them grow.

I’m grateful for a new job!  Which, ends up will be PT to start with, but that’s okay. I actually am excited about it, and think it will be challenging for sure, but will be a blessing as well. It’s a 50% raise from what I make now! Anyhow… it will be good.

I’m thankful for a new place to live. A friend who owns her house and has extra rooms has extended the invitation for me to live with her a little while until I can afford life on my own. Which, I will need roommates, but that’s in the future, not today.

And yall know I’m grateful for food, food that tastes good, that’s nutritious, etc. What a blessing I’ve had, the only meals I’ve missed have been from my choice to fast, not from poverty. And I do worry about food shortages… but apparently rice has little bugs that come out, and I have a TON of rice, and I’d rather it get eaten than ruin, so if you know someone wanting a 25 pound bag of rise let me know… I’ve got several!

There’s so much to be grateful for, and I hope you’re able to reflect on that today, but really every day. Also say a prayer that my annoying cough will GO AWAY!!! Happy Thanksgiving!