Being Thankful in All Things

This year has been a roller coaster of a year for us.  Ups, like Jack being born (oh, how I love that sweet squishy boy) and downs, like dealing with moving, the sense of being lost and forgotten.  Through it all, we've loved, laughed, cried (and cried, and cried...) and grown in our faith.  This has been a watershed year for us.

Yet, we're learning to be thankful in all things.  Not at all easy, always good.

Last night during family worship, Paco and I were talking about thankfulness with the children.  Of course when we ask them what they're thankful for, we get the typical answers, such as "food", "clothes", "our house", and my personal favorite Sunday school answer, "uh, Jesus?"

I wanted them to start thinking outside of the box a little, though.  So in a streak of insanity I said, "what about undies?"  (If you knew my children, you would know how dangerous it is to say the word undies, especially during family worship, but I really wanted them to think.)

During the discussion, we talked about the conveniences of modern living and natural things from God's creation that we have been blessed with.  We talked about the feel of different textures, the smell of dinner cooking, hearing people laugh, the feel of holding a baby (mainly our baby, of course).  The kids loved it!  They could be silly and yet realize how much we have to thank the Lord for.

I am so thankful for the feel of slobbery baby kisses and books.  I have memories and pictures that were taken years, months, days ago to help me remember.  I am thankful for the desire to learn more and more about my God and other things (but not ever math.  no, not ever math.).  I have a delightfully comfy bed that I rarely want to leave and a pantry stocked with food that I get to cook.  I am blessed to have people (older, younger, whatever) in my life, willing to invest in me, my life and just love me, even when I'm as prickly as a porcupine.

God is good.  All the time.

That is what I'm most thankful for.  All the time.  I can always trust that.

What are you thankful for?  I'd love to hear.  It can be as silly or thoughtful as you like.