Given what has happened with our family, financially over the last 2 years, it could be very hard and it could be a daily struggle to stay thankful.
However, I am thankful for so many things.
I am thankful when I see my girls hold hands as they walk together to their friend's house.
I am thankful when the kids use good manners.
I am thankful for a beautiful 70 degree day in November...
and I am thankful for our struggles.
Yep, I said it!
I am thankful for all of the financial struggles that the past 2 years have brought.
Why, you might ask?
Well, without these struggles, we might never know to be thankful for hands that are held, well said "yes mam's" or a beautiful day.
It is funny how these struggles, these things that can make us so ungrateful, can make you so incredibly grateful, can totally change the way you look at life and what is important in your life and what the Lord tells you is important in your life.
Don't get me wrong, we are still so, so much better off than so many here in this country and certainly all over the world, yet these are our struggles and struggles they are but God has shown me how to be thankful and God has shown me so much of what I have to be thankful for.
I am thankful for this guy...
My dear sweet hubby who loves me for me, with all my craziness and "emotionalness" or should I say "emotional-mess!" LOL! He is having to say "no" to me right now on something that means the world to me and I know how much that is tearing him up inside and I know how much he wants to say "yes" because...
He LOVES me and I am thankful!
I am thankful for my eldest child, Christian
who just tonight told me that he had watched a documentary on teens who had no parents and how thankful he was to have us and how it "moved" him. I was reminded again tonight what a good and kind heart my teenager has, what a responsible nature and deep, deep soul. We had a long talk, a good talk and I am thankful!
I am thankful for my Charlie
who makes me smile just by being in the room and brightens my day, every day and who still (at 11 years old) will come to me for a hug and grab my hand as we walk along, who would rescue every single stray that his momma doesn't (heh). Charlie knows when I need something and is always right there to give it and I am thankful!
I am thankful for my Caleb
who has a heart so large that it really takes my breath away sometimes. Caleb who upon hearing that his oldest brother needed money to pay for something, gave him his last $12 and these days, around here, $12 might as well be $100! Caleb who has also offered to give me all if his money to help bring another child home, "cause I know how expensive it is, Mom and we need to bring another sister home." I am speechless and I am thankful.
I am thankful for my sweet Emmeline
I am thankful for my precious Lizzie
who has changed the course and purpose of my life. My sweet Lizzie who tells me 10 times a day, "I love you Mommie," even when she is struggling. My amazing daughter who inspires my heart and touches my soul every single day, who will, with joy in her heart, give away her last treasure, trusting that there will be more treasures to come. My beautiful Lizzie who refuses to be defined by her fingers and toes but by her heart, makes me thankful!
So, you see, despite the struggles and even because of the struggles, I am incredibly blessed and so very, very thankful. I am fabulously wealthy, beyond what money can buy and I AM THANKFUL!
What are you thankful for?
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Beautiful post! Thank you for the awesome reminder, I have been fretful the last few days because we still have not received our LOA and you have reminded me that I need to be more thankful for this life God has given me and to be thankful in the wait! Thank you!
ReplyDeleteWonderful post Annie! Thank you for reminding me of the things I'm thankful for as well. :) I'll be praying that soon you'll hear a "yes" to your hearts desire. :) Hugs!
ReplyDeleteBeautiful post! You are such a special person and those kids and Chris are so lucky to have you!
ReplyDeleteThat's what Thanksgiving is about... stopping to remember all the wonderful blessings we have!
ReplyDeleteAnnie,
ReplyDeleteI read this post earlier today from my phone and wanted to leave a comment right away, but it's too hard to type on the phone and I had too much to say..haha.
It's funny how much our lives kind of parallel. You express it beautifully, frankly, and candidly. I haven't done that so much.
Besides the obvious..3 awesome boys followed by 2 girls a little blondie, then our little Chinese princesses...there's the not-so-obvious. After two long years, we are finally recovering from struggles including job loss in mid-life and all the terrible fears and set backs that brings. It was hard. Really hard. REALLY hard. I never thought I would be able to say I was thankful for it...but, like you, I am. We learn so much of God in the hard times that we just don't learn in the good times. It's when we don't see a way out, that we can so clearly see His light and see all the ways He's working in our lives and situations every day. It's those hard days when you pray and cry and pray some more...and then God just reveals Himself in such an incredible way that it about knocks you over. And you think, "Ok, Lord, I see you. I can keep going."
Annie, I'm gonna venture a wild/educated guess that our heart's cries are running parallel too, but recovery from those struggles is bogging down the calling God embedded in our hearts. I don't know about you, but I have been crying out to the Lord pretty loudly these days...and my "whys" and my "whens" seem to pile up. Why the passion, why the call, why the roadblocks, when, God?
I'm assuming alot. Maybe I'm wrong. Maybe I'm not. I just knew I needed to write to you.
I feel like God has been showing me things, tiny things, just to let me know He's still moving...not to give up.
Golly! It's hard on the heart isn't it!
Lots of love from over here on this end of the blog-o-sphere !!!
I'll pray for you. (I truly will...not just saying that) :)
Cherie
Oh Cherie!!!!!! Yes, I do believe our heart cries are the same and I have been piling up many "why's" and "when's" as well. I am trying so hard to wait with grace and joy, knowing and trusting that the Lord has the perfect plan for us and that He is working hard for us, but there are days when it gets hard. It is VERY hard on the heart, dear friend!! Thank you SO much for your prayers Cherie. I will be praying for you and your family as well!!!!
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