Today I’m thankful for wonderful neighbors, especially Jen, who is this magical gardener. I’m thankful to drive past her house whenever I come home, and whenever I drive or walk by, I feel as if I’m transported out of the city to somewhere beautiful. I’m thankful for the ginormous pumpkin she gave me. It made five pan-fulls of roasted chunks, and five blender-fulls of puree! It could feed our family for a week, I think. I’m thankful for generosity shown to us through our family in Christ. God loves a cheerful giver! So many times we wonder at what He wants us to do. Usually He is just nudging us towards small, everyday acts of kindness, generosity, and selflessness. He loves that. It reflects who HE is to us. I want to reflect who He is to others.
thankfulness
A Warrior and A Princess
Today I’m thankful for the way our kids like to buddy up with each other. Every day, sometimes every hour, it is a different pair or trio. This particular afternoon it was Jack and Elsie. They both like to wear hats. They both like oats for lunch. They look out for each other’s interests. For instance, today when we were driving, Elsie pointed out an orange truck to Jack. She knows he loves orange and probably thought the truck factor was a bonus. I love that sometimes he will concede and play house with her, and other times she will agree to play ninja with him. I’m thankful they can encourage each other and challenge each other in school. I’m thankful for this sweet little duo who bring so much energy and spice to my life.
All Is Not Small
Today I’m thankful for just enough flour in the cupboard to make cinnamon rolls. Nothing is more fall-y than hot tea with cinnamon rolls. I’m thankful that God doesn’t change, no matter what the calendar reads, the critics say, or the bank account shows. I’m thankful that He knows my name and never leaves me, no matter what I’ve done or how I feel. He is totally worth celebrating and remembering. Bless the Lord, all my soul, and forget not all His benefits; who forgives all your sins and heals all your diseases. (Psalm 103:2-3)
Brothers
Today I’m thankful for brothers. I love these particular brothers, who share a room and clothing. Sometimes at night I can hear them talking to each other in their beds. Usually it’s about their dream remote control car, or girls. Sometimes Jack will just come up behind me and start playing with my hair or rubbing my shoulders. Sometimes Elijah will write me little notes. They’re still wearing crocs and flip-flops, and almost every pair of pants has holes in the knees. They play hard, work hard, and sleep hard. They have huge appetites, dreams, and hearts. Without them our fridge would be fuller, but my heart would be emptier.
Confessions of A Mom
Today I’m thankful for the stages of life that my children are all going through. I love watching them learn and grow and become their own little persons. I’m thankful that with each soul born into our family, my heart has not grown more cluttered, just more full. Today I struggled with the noise level of my day. Yet I’ve been reminded that even though my life is never quiet, my heart is at peace. I wonder what it would be like to have neatly lined-up shoes in front of the door, and two loads of laundry a week. I wonder what it would be like if my counter-tops were always spotless and my bathroom sink never had toothpaste smeared all over it. Would that truly make me happy? No, I realize that picking up the zillionth shoe is a privilege, honor, and gift from God. I realize that the random shirt stuffed under the sofa, the mysterious smell coming from the bathroom, the gum stuck to the floor, the empty fridge yet again, are all marks of tremendous blessings. I have five little bodies that stumble down for a hug each morning. I have been given five hearts to love and tell about Jesus, the lover of their souls. Forgive me, Lord, when I cringe at the messes instead of embracing the mess-makers. Forgive me for blocking out my ears to their voices instead of joining in the clamor. Forgive my ungrateful heart and create in me a clean heart, O God, ready to hug, listen, and love. I truly am thankful.
Little Pumpkins
Today I’m thankful for the farm where we get our milk. Pumpkin patch photo ops, and sweet kids of our love. I’m thankful for my family and the crackling fire at my in-laws. I’m thankful for the freedom Christ has given to live victoriously and with joy. Something I’m learning more about each day.
Four Bites of Thankfulness
As November begins, I will be doing a daily thankful post. We can’t have enough thankfulness. My heart needs constant tuning. When it feels off-pitch, it is usually due to comparison, greed, envy, pride, or dis-satisfaction. However, all of these cacophonous noises can be brought into perfect tune with a sound dose of thankfulness.
Today I am thankful for the lessons my children are teaching me. Grace and patience come to mind today. When a sweet child refused to eat or try her supper last night, I told her it would be her breakfast. After breakfast came and went, it became her lunch. After lunch, we sat at the table together and it finally became her afternoon snack. The anger I felt this morning dissipated as I gentled my approach but strengthened my resolve. Her heart is at stake, not a bowl of potatoes. I could care less if she ever grows to like potatoes, even though that would be great. I care a great deal, however, for her to trust my word, not be afraid of me, and respect my authority. I made sure my expectations weren’t unreasonable, and focused my attention on her heart, not on winning the battle. The breach between us has been bridged once more, and the first thing she did after she swallowed her last bite was give me a hug.
I’m also thankful for the wild and crazy outfits this strong-minded girl wears. When I hesitated at her wearing her sparkly purple dress out to the grocery store, Matthew sweetly reminded me that it won’t fit her forever, and so why not enjoy it today? And why not enjoy it with hot pink and silver striped stockings and red boots!
I can hardly wait to say what else I’m thankful for, because when I start this tuning process, all the yucky sounds of discontent go running! It is a habit I have tried hard to maintain, but feel the need of much improvement right now.
Let the peace of Christ rule in your hearts, remembering that as members of the same body you are called to live in harmony, and never forget to be thankful for what God has done for you. (Col. 3:15) Always be thankful. It’s a command, not an option!
Grow Old With Me 