I have decided with this being Thanksgiving week, it would be a great time to assess my life and share some of thethings that make me grateful. Not just the normal, broad subjects like family and home, but much more specific. So hear goes.
I am thankful for...
Freedom to worship or not to worship how we chose. Not only for the governmental freedom, that so many have fought to protect, but the freedom that my God gives each of us to choose to follow Him. If He took that choice and made it mandatory to worship Him, it just would not hold the meaning that it does when it is my choice to follow Him. He allows me the choice and I chose, daily, to walk with Him. It is something that I feel called to do, and that calling comes from my wonderful Savior.
Food that is readily available to us. At times, I complain that we don't have anything to eat in the house, when realistically we could eat for weeks on the boxes, cans and bags in our pantry and freezer. It may not be the most appetizing of meals, but starve, we would not. We venture out for quick meals when there's no time and there is always store calling my hubby in to grab a Mt. Dew and a quick snack. Then when there is more time, we go out for sit down meals around another's table and let them do all of the preparations, cooking and clean up. I am so glad that I can say and I am almost certain that my husband can say that we have never truly been hungry. I hope that we can share that wealth.
The total and unbridled love of my children. Not to say that there aren't times that they look at me like they wish I would totally disappear from the face of this earth, usually following statements like "Go clean your room" or "It's homework time." But there are also times that they will, each in their own unique way, communicate how much they love me. Charlie is more direct by saying what he feels. He says at least ten times a day, "Mama, I love you." But just this weekend, he looked me right in the eyes and said, "You are the best Mama I could ever have." That's the love that I am talking about. Britt is much more subtle. I catch him watching me when I didn't know he is looking and his smile when I see him so reminds me of Pat. He is just admiring me for me, ignoring the fact that my hair is a mess, I still have on PJs and I have yet to sit down and play that game with them yet. He is patiently waiting because deep down he knows that he owns my heart. And I think that I have a pretty portion of his too.
That I get to pay back in a small way the great things that the veterans of this country have done for us. When I walk the halls of this VA Hospital, I feel like bowing and thanking them for their sacrifices. Because in one way or another, they all made sacrifices. And the most amazing thing about it, most are too humble to accept praise for it.
I hope to keep sharing these as the week continues. The boys are out of school all week so I am sure there will be some stories to be shared as well.
