thankful

I'm sure this will be one of a million blog posts tomorrow with the word "thank" in it.  But I am of the mind that we truly do need to be more thankful in life, and so I'm not concerned about sounding generic.

I truly am thankful this year, for so many things.  It's so easy to become steeped in negativity, focusing on what I wish were different or things in life that seem unfair.  I've had my emotional and mental struggles this year, adjusting to three children and home ownership with constructing an addition, among other things.  It hasn't always been easy.  I average one day a week, where I want to just break down. 

But when I focus on the positive, when I choose to be grateful, my mental outlook truly improves.  It's a discipline though.  I have to make a conscious effort.  I learned a lot about perspective reading the book Crazy Love by Francis Chan (high recommend it, by the way).   I am truly blessed.

I am thankful for a husband who loves me so unconditionally.  Who never stops learning how to love his family better.  A husband who contributes so much to the running of our household.  There are many weeks that he does more loads of laundry and sinkfuls of dishes than I do.  But it enables me to meet the demands of our three little beans.

I am thankful for three beautiful, healthy children.  This year I have watched a dear friend lose her unborn son to a rare skeletal disorder, only to become pregnant again right away, and deliver at 26 weeks due to severe pre-ecclampsia.  Thankfully her baby is slowly gaining weight and strength and we are bombarding heaven daily on her behalf.  I watched a life-long friend lose her first baby to Trisomy 13, a heartbreak still so fresh.

Like Mary, I among women, am blessed. (Luke 1:42)

I am thankful for a home, that is an investment in our future, in a wonderful neighborhood.  Yes it's small, and there are many unfinished projects.  But God led us here, and opened the doors and we trust Him.  It's provided a permanent home for my parents,  allowing me to honor them as Scripture commands.  (Exodus 20:12)

I am thankful that we have secure jobs and wonderful benefits.  We have no unpaid bills and even a little emergency money in savings.  I honestly cannot say that we are "broke."  We may feel that at times, but it's not really true.

We have wonderful family and friends.  They support us and help us.  They contribute so much to our lives on so many levels.

It is my God, who has given me so much to be thankful for.  Even when I fail Him and disappoint Him, still He blesses me.  It is because of His love that I can love and recieve love.  He gives me every good and perfect gift.  He is my rock in times of trouble.

I love Psalm 16:6.
The boundary lines have fallen for me in pleasant places; surely I have a delightful inheritance.

Yes,  the boundary lines of my life are in pleasant places.  I have just enough.  The Lord has given me everything I need, and even so much of what I want. 

The Lord is my Shepherd, I shall not want.

And I don't.  Truly I don't.