Thanksgiving Day

And for about a week now I've been thinking about being thankful and what I'm thankful for. I have not always been a thankful person. But today, older and wiser, having a better understanding of life and of my God, I am truly thankful for many many things - and people.

I'm thankful to be where I am in life. Thankful to be here in Dallas and thankful that my husband is with me and I love him and he loves me. I am thankful knowing that even this is part of Father's plan for us and there is purpose here. Thankful for the days to come and all the good things that we are going to find in this new land. I am thankful that HIS yoke is easy and his burden is light. Mine was surely not.

I am thankful for my children - for who they are and who God created them to be. They are strong and healthy and intelligent and beautiful and I love them. I am thankful for the ways in which I see God's hand in their lives. I am thankful for his provision for them.

I am thankful for all the obstacles, trials and difficulties that have been a part of our journey - as individuals and as a family. These are the things that make us grow. These things are part of the transformation journey that our lives are.

I am thankful for my natural family - brothers and sisters - in law and out law - and for the history - the roots - we share. And for Daddy Patrick still being with us and for my mom and dad and Larry's mom - all with the Lord now and for their care of me and love for me. I love them.

I am thankful for our large spiritual family. Some are people in now far away places with different paths to walk but still in the same land called the Kingdom of Heaven. I'm thankful for telephones, and email and Facebook and such things for keeping us connected. Some are people in this city with us with whom we will walk out some of God's purposes in a close way. Some are people that we never see and never talk to but still I feel the kinship with them because we are connected to the same head who is Jesus. I love them all.

I am thankful for all the deposit of God that has come to me from these people and the experiences of my life.

We come into His gates with thanksgiving and enter His courts with praise. I wish I could say that I had always lived in this place but I can surely say that I'm spending more and more time there these days and am working at making that my permanent residence.

I am thankful above all that God saw fit to reveal himself to me and by faith in Jesus to make me His child. I'm thankful that He holds me and those I love and carry in my heart close to His heart always. I love Him.