Counting My Blessings

I drifted off to sleep last night counting my blessings and all the blessings that I am thankful for in my life. I woke up early (5:05 am) thinking of the same things so I took that as an omen to blog.

I remember in grade school around Thanksgiving we would always have to write a story about what we are thankful for.

In the spirit of Thanksgiving, here is my short list:
Motherhood: I am thankful for the blessing of motherhood. To me, this means that God had enough faith in me to raise three of his children without an instruction manual. Those who are mothers know that this is completely on-the-job training, most of which we learned from our own mothers. I thank God that I one of the best teachers!

My daughter: She is just like me, only stronger. She makes me laugh, she makes me cry, she always hits the curb when she drives my car. She is strong, dedicated, loving, a good friend, and a defender of our country. Thank God for my daughter; she is my best friend.

My sons: Two peas in a pod these boys. Two strong, smart, dedicated, mechanical, loving, caring young men who bring smiles to my face every day by the way they love life and live each day to its fullest. Thank God I have my boys, and they have each other.

Love: I am thankful for the many ways I give and receive love and I am thankful that there is so much of it in the world that it can get you through many of the worse times of your life. Especially, the never-ending love we get from our Lord.

Family: Immediate and extended, those close, and those far away. I cannot imagine my world without my family. Though we may not get together as often as we like because of time and distance, they are always in my heart and in my prayers. They are the lifeline and support system that keeps me whole.

Cobwebs & Dust: This one might seem strange to you. But the blessings of cobwebs and dust mean, to me, that I am blessed with the a shelter from the cold, a safe place to be. I have heat and electricity. So praise God for cobwebs and dust.

Laundry: Those piles of laundry that never quite seem to end are absolutely a blessing. These piles signify that one of our basic needs of life, warm clothing, is being met in abundance and we should be thankful for them. Thank you Lord for warm clothing.

Dirty Dishes: Here again, many may think these represent an endless, thankless chore. But those dirty dishes in the sink mean that we have been blessed, yet again, with food so that we will not go hungry. Thank you, God, for dirty dishes.

My Job: Day and in and day out I travel to work and come home. It takes a big chunk out of my day when I'd sometimes rather be doing something else. However, if I did not have this blessing, I would not be able to enjoy the previous three blessings. I appreciate the fact that I still have a job to go to when so many are not as fortunate and are struggling. I am thankful for the laughter and friendships that flourish there. Thank you God for allowing me to be employed and help support my family.

Friendships: I am so thankful for the many various friendships I have been blessed with throughout my life. From my best friend since kindergarten to the new friends I've made through work, church and the army - every one of them has blessed and strengthened me in some way. Friends are there for you. Friendship is powerful. Friends laugh with you, they cry with you, they can get you into and out of trouble, they can get you down and they can uplift your spirit. Each one, I believe, has been sent to me for a reason. My cup runneth over with this blessing of friendship. Thank you, God, for the abundance of friends you have brought into my life.

Freedom & Soldiers: I am thankful for all of the soldiers who serve in the military. Who serve to restore peace and freedom in God's world. We are blessed with the freedom to come and go as we please, wear what we want, thank what we want, and be who we are - - shouldn't everyone, everywhere have this blessing? God, thankyou for our troops and for the freedom we enjoy!

Remember to take time to count your blessings this year and thank the God who has given them to you.