This Year I’m Doing Thanksgiving in a New Way

I’ve been thinking about thanking God differently.

For example, thanking God for bad things that never happened - thanking Him for His protection and amazing rescues.  Most of which I’m not even aware of, but sometimes I know – like when I almost caught my foot and tumbled down 12 stairs, the truck that just missed my car. I imagine you can think of many rescues yourself.

Thanking God for unsung heroes in my life who often don’t get noticed. Like my son-in-law John who did so much to help during Wayne’s health crisis. Helping me prepare our garage for winter, winterize our boat, extra driving, generously sharing his wife for several overnights, shopping for food for us. He is such a willing selfless worker who stays in the background and doesn’t get acclaimed nearly enough. I happened to catch this picture of him in our kitchen during a recent family gathering. I bet you can think of an unsung hero in your life too. What a blessing they are.

Thanking God for all the intriguing animals in the world – not just dogs as wonderful as they are, but deer that parade through our woods, chipmunks I like to watch scurry around on our deck. Those pesky, persistent squirrels that make me pause and smile. I need to toss in birds and fish too – fascinating!

Thanking God for the gift of light – the pleasure of flicking a switch and brightening a room. The brightness of the world after a couple days of rain.

Thanking God for ink – pens and printers- so we can literally see the ideas that come from someone else’s brain.

Thanking God also for the gift of knowing deep within myself that there is a holy, gracious, living Being Who is worthy of my immense thanks. God's greatness is why I have the joy and privilege of being a thankful person.

May this be your best Thanksgiving day ever and the start of a beautiful holiday season of gratitude.  We all have sooooooooo much to be thankful for. Perhaps this Thanksgiving you’ll find some new things for giving thanks.

One of the best things in the whole world to be thankful for every day is the gift of family and friends – priceless! That's YOU.

                               Blessed Thanksgiving Everyone!!!

O Lord you are such an incredible Creator and Sustainer of this world and all that is in it – how we praise You!

Thankful For Strong Hearts

I'VE LEARNED the human heart must become resilient because it will crack apart often. The spouse you choose, the family you create, that child placed in your arms after the miracle of birth – purest joy and the start of immense heart achings.

My heart broke into pieces at the first ear infection when baby cried and I couldn’t make the hurt go away. In sports, those times the coach chose not to put my eager child in the game. And much, much worse. The doctor saying my child had cancer with a fifty-fifty chance of survival - near devastation.

O the complexities of the heart. The cycle of loving goes on - happy heart, whole heart, broken heart, restored heart. I never knew my heart could truly burst with joy at one moment and then experience intense devastation. No one warned me the heart was so fragile but now I know. Concern over my husband’s health, distress over an adult child’s problem. It doesn’t stop at any age. Grandchildren have the same effect.

My heart has been broken and mended a thousand times. You’d think it would become callous with time but each sorrow hurts like the first. Yet, hopefully each one makes me a little stronger.

I want health and happiness uninterrupted by nothing and lasting forever for all my family, children and grandchildren. Is that too much to ask? I know disease and sinful evil people exist, but keep them from my beloved.

Thankfully, I survive in my broken state because I place those I love in the care of the only one who loves them more – my Lord and my God, their Lord and their God. It may seem a little act, but it is enough to keep my heart beating. And more, it keeps joy and gratitude in my soul.

UPDATES:

WE ARE SO GRATEFUL for my husband Wayne's healed heart! I so appreciate your prayers for him.  He attends cardiac rehab three times a week and is doing well. Praise God for His  healing mercies. 

WRITING:

Happily, my edits are back on track for my next inspirational mystery novel, The Windemere Affair. If you’re part of my Circlemaker prayer team, or would like to be, prayers are appreciated that this mystery will honor God as it covers some hot button topics.

GIFT E-BOOKS

Please take the opportunity to receive my gift to you! Our  free e-book this month is Joyful Christmas Reflections - deep, sweet, short meditations to prepare your heart for Christmas before the rush begins. Available through amazon on Kindle November 29 & 30.

SPEAKING:

I’ll be giving my inspirational talk, Stages From the Heart to the Page on Wed. December 13^th for the Elgin Area Christian Women’s Connection at Villa Olivia Country Club in Bartlett, IL. For more info, contact person is Jan at 630-213-1205.

 

Ezekiel 36:26

“I will give you a new heart and put a new spirit in you; I will remove from you your heart of stone and give you a heart of flesh.”

Heartfelt Blessings Upon Blessings!