Monday, November 30, 2009

Happy Thanksgiving

thanksgiving_comments_for

Ok, so Thanksgiving was actually Thursday just gone. I wanted to do this on the day but didn’t get around to it and then had a really busy weekend.

The American holiday was introduced to my family back in 1999 by an American Pastor and his wife who were helping out in the Church I was in at the time. They introduced to us the delicious food as well as the Thanksgiving tradition of sharing what we were thankful for.

As I didn’t share the day with anyone, I’ll share here what things I am thankful for this year:

  • God’s provision for me. This year I have found out at various times how much God has provided for me, even when I didn’t know that He was. For example, the provision of a wage, even though I’m not working; the provision of health providers who aren’t part of the system that made me take stress leave in the first place. The psychiatrists and psychologists that have provided treatment and care to me this year are truly the best, and in so doing, they continually enable me to have time away from work to fully recover. They work for my best interests, not the interests of the Education Department or the Insurance Company. It’s amazing how great God is, and how He continues to bless us, even when we don’t notice.
  • Great parents. My parents have been there for me through the ups and downs of this year. They have supported me both emotionally and monetarily, especially when I’m not coping and can’t make big decisions. I am thankful for God’s blessing of my parents.
  • Good friends. Good friends really make a difference in life. Good friends support and listen to you through the ups and the downs. They don’t judge you when you’re ranting, when you’re up or when you’re down. Sometimes all a good friend has to do is listen to what you’re saying and sometimes agree or sometimes help you to see what you’re not seeing. I am glad God created us to be in relationships with others, and what a blessing friendships can be.
  • Good neighbours. My neighbours are the best. They’re Christian, they’re generous, they’re friendly, they’re sharing and kind. My neighbours and I share similar interests even! We enjoy talking about: food, growing food and eating food; parenting; books; card making; craft; preserving food; life in general and Christian life. They lend me their lawn mower when I need to mow my lawn and I lend them my car when they need a car with a tow ball. Their lemon tree hangs over my fence and provides me with fresh lemons all year around. They take care of my chooks while I’m away and I give them fresh eggs.  Neighbours can either make day to day life poor (especially when you constantly hear them swearing at each other and at their children, smell them smoking, have to listen to their loud music at 2 am, put up with their ‘parties’ any time of the day or night, any day of the week and then have to clean up all the glass and rubbish that has made it over the fence from those parties) or they can make it enjoyable. My neighbours are definitely enjoyable! Thank you God for good neighbours!

Well, those are the biggest things that I am thankful for this year. I am also thankful that I live in a country that allows me to go to Church and learn more about God, for through the ups and downs of this year, I have really learnt a lot about Him, which I’m not sure I would have done otherwise.

2 Corinthians 9:11
You will be made rich in every way so that you can be generous on every occasion, and through us your generosity will result in thanksgiving to God.

What are you thankful for?

1 comment:

Sarah said...

Thanks for asking this question. It's always good to reflect back on God's goodness and learn to be thankful and content in all circumstances

I'm thankful for:
Jesus - for forgiveness, salvation and a fresh start.
Relationships - marriage, family, friends (both of the human and furry kind), church.
House, car, job etc
Good health most of the time.
Country life - the peacefulness and simplicity of it.

And that's just a start....