Happy Thanksgiving!
The Canadian autumn weekend of eating too much is upon us, and I cannot wait for the scent of roast turkey to begin wafting from my oven, complete with stuffing, candied yam, and desserts … yum … I AM thankful!
It is easy to sit around a table, full of great food and great people, and be thankful … but, “in all circumstances?”
Sometimes the table is missing loved ones, who do not live near, or who do not live here on Earth.
Sometimes the table has meager offerings.
Sometimes health is not good.
Sometimes relationships are not healthy.
Sometimes jobs are in peril … or non-existent.
Sometimes homes are lost.
Sometimes hope has faded.
Sometimes memories are gone.
Sometimes …
“give thanks in all circumstances;
for this is God’s will for you in Christ Jesus.”
1 Thessalonians 5:18
God’s will is for us to give thanks? But … what if that which we have gives us little to be thankful for?
I cannot speak for the heart of God, nor can I speak for any other human being, but I will share with you how life changing giving thanks has been, in the heart of this mere mortal.
As I began to post about two and a half years ago, my goal was to reflect the name I chose, itsawonderfilledlife. I wanted to not stop looking at life with the awe and wonder of a child. I wanted to never allow life to so jade me that I ceased to be amazed at just how blessed I am.
And so, as I write, as I write, each and every day, I do so with the goal of being wonder-filled in my heart.
Now, every day is not light and fluffy, and perhaps there are posts that are downright depressing … but my hope is that the focus is predominantly one of wonder.
The past three years have included some of the most heart-wrenching struggles to keep getting out of bed each day, and yet the focus of searching for wonder, has it falling at my feet each and every day …
from fog in the morning,
https://itsawonderfilledlife.net/2012/11/20/fog/
to an eagle’s cry,
https://itsawonderfilledlife.net/2012/09/21/where-are-my-wings/
to all of creation,
https://itsawonderfilledlife.net/2011/06/02/creation-calls-me-to-believe/
to a child’s joy,
https://itsawonderfilledlife.net/2012/03/15/jumping-in-puddles/
to the note of a student,
https://itsawonderfilledlife.net/2013/06/21/better-than-a-gift-card/
to the message of encouragement from a friend,
https://itsawonderfilledlife.net/2013/09/10/mamma-meltdown/
to the right song on the radio at just the right time,
https://itsawonderfilledlife.net/2012/09/05/good-to-be-alive/
to the whisper of God, “I love you, with an everlasting love,”
https://itsawonderfilledlife.net/2013/09/27/ways-he-says-i-love-you/
to the smell of fresh brewed coffee,
https://itsawonderfilledlife.net/2013/08/14/making-coffee/
to the blessing of great parents,
https://itsawonderfilledlife.net/2011/06/30/love-pussy-willows/
to the joy of being mom to one daughter,
https://itsawonderfilledlife.net/my-loves-brittany/
to the joy of being mom to another daughter,
https://itsawonderfilledlife.net/my-loves-cris/
to the joy of being mom to a son,
https://itsawonderfilledlife.net/my-loves-ben/
to the joy of being mom at all,
https://itsawonderfilledlife.net/2012/05/10/a-letter-on-being-mom/
to the life with the man who has loved me when I do not deserve his love,
https://itsawonderfilledlife.net/my-loves-my-hubby/
to the redemption that God offered, for all my sins.
https://itsawonderfilledlife.net/my-loves-numero-uno/
… in ALL circumstance?
You bet!
Because there is always something to be thankful for! Always.
“Come, ye thankful people, come, raise the song of harvest home;
All is safely gathered in, ere the winter storms begin.
God our Maker doth provide for our wants to be supplied;
Come to God’s own temple, come, raise the song of harvest home.”
itsawonderfilledlife 