Grateful: It Never Ends

It really never ends, does it? 

It's the little things, like laughing uncontrollably with my kids at this rendition of Mahna Mahna.  Intrigued at how my childhood years and theirs seem to collide.  And yes, grateful that they can and do.  (click on the title and scroll down a bit to see what I'm talking about).

It's the big things, like realizing just how good God is as the kids and I clean up leaves and sticks and who knows what else on my folks property.  Dad recovers from surgery, mom takes such good care of him and of us while we take over their abode for several days, kids transfer their eagerness to serve into several hours of hard work outside.  I'm blessed to be able to get out of town and relax and have what could possibly be the best Thanksgiving yet.  And, though slightly silly, I realize how blessed I am to have a tree-less property to take care of.  God knew way in advance what I could handle on my own.  Or "own-ish."  I have some amazing people that help me out tremendously.  They are absolute God-sends and I don't know what I would do without them!  So to be more accurate, God knew way in advance what I would be able to handle along with the people He would send me to fill in the gaps.  The bottom line is that God has blessed us with a home to live in today, and for as many days as He decides for us in the future.  I'm grateful for that.

It's the in between things.  The every day things.  The special occasion things.  The "I didn't see that coming" things.

It truly never ends.

I always thought of myself as a grateful person.  And I think that most days I was.  But in the words of Emeril, it's been kicked up a notch.  In a season of life where everything was up in the air and nothing was predictable...gratitude increased.  Of course, truly, that's how everyday is if we really thought about it: up in the air and unpredictable.  So let's change the word "was" to "is" in my previous statement, and realize that if we do not live everyday with an off the charts level of gratitude then we are completely missing it.  Completely.

All over the place, pumpkins and leaves and cornucopias are going back in their bins, replaced with wreaths and lights and countless configurations of red & green.  Mums replaced with poinsettias.  Cornstalks replaced with Christmas trees.  Pilgrims replaced with the manger scene.  But I'm not done yet.  Because, truly, it never ends.

For my kids, health, heated home, clean water and food to eat.  I am truly grateful.

For slippers, blankets, flannel sheets, hot coffee and hot chocolate.  I am truly grateful.

For friends, advocates, defenders, protectors, supporters and people that believe in me.  I am truly grateful.

For God's grace, love, mercy, truth, forgiveness, hope, healing, restoration and perfectly designed future.  I am truly grateful.

For people that put up plastic sheeting on my windows, surprise me with a face lift for my driveway and create a clean stove in my kitchen.  For those that give me meat for my freezer, gas station gift cards, kind notes in the mail, and phone calls on rough days.  For those that give my kids the gifts I wish I could give them.  I am truly grateful.

For silly movies that bring back such fond childhood memories.  For coupons.  Good books.  Squash biscuits.  Time.  The ability to listen to music.  The privilege to make music.  For safe travel, fuzzy socks and cuddles with my kids.  Old traditions.  New traditions.  The privilege to pray with and for people.  For the people that do the same for me.

For the unexpected.  The expected.  And the ability to understand that each have their place.

For this and so much more.  For that fact that the never ending urge to give thanks means there is a never ending flow of God's faithfulness.

Life is messy.  I am imperfect.  Days can be tough.  Reality can be unfair, whatever that means. But I am a blessed woman. Truly and completely.

The list of things to be grateful for is long.  It never ends.

And for that I am truly grateful.