As my mind reflects on this Thanksgiving and the past 2 years, I wanted to write down some of the blessings that I’m grateful for. I have been feeling overwhelmed with gratitude for God’s grace and mercy to me. I was reminded again to count my blessings. I have so many blessings in my life and I’m sure I couldn’t write them all down. But I’m going to put a few here and want to encourage you to sit down this Thanksgiving and write down some of God’s blessings in your life.
My heavenly Father has been so good to me. I can’t thank Him enough. The Word of God has been a comfort and I am still learning how to better pray for others. He sacrificed His life so that we could live eternally with Him. That is the greatest gift of all.
My wonderful, caring family and friends have been a tremendous blessing and comfort to me. There is no words to express how thankful I am of how loving and caring they have been. They have to help me with almost every part of daily life and they have been very patient with me. I couldn’t ask for a better family and friends.
Dear Frosty and her five little puppies have brought a lot of joy. Frosty knows when I am having a bad day and in a lot of pain because she just curls up right beside me and sticks very close. Her little puppies are little sweethearts and very wiggly and energetic. Almost to much for me right now.:)
I am so grateful that even with everything going on in my physical body that I can still be with family and friends and listen to conversations and be able to have visitors. I have so much to be thankful for. I have eyes to see God’s beautiful creation, ears to hear conversations, and the ability to talk with people.
Another blessing is modern technology… The ability to communicate with friends that live far away. The ability to use my phone to type for me when I don’t the have energy. The resources to keep learning even though I can’t be out and about.
I am also grateful to have a good doctor and caring nurses. The past couple months have been very interesting and full with treatments.
And lastly, the wonderful encouragement and support of my friends that are also chronically ill. This year was blessed with a community of us who truly understand the difficulties we face. God is so good.
I am sure if I sat down was each one of you and asked you how things have been this past year you would tell me that it was very full, busy, and sometimes very trying. I’m sure each of you could tell me of some kind of trial or hardship that you have faced this year. I can tell you that this has been one of the hardest years of my life. Most of you know in part what the past 2 years have been like for me. And as of right now I don’t have many answers.
I continue to be amazed at how many things there are to learn about God. And about what God wants of us or has told us to do in the Bible. There are periods of time where I feel like I am staying in the same place spiritually. Then I hear a sermon or story or encouraging quote or talk to someone or hearing from a friend who is also struggling physically, and I realize there is something more for me to learn. I believe God specifically puts things in our paths to show us what He wants us to learn. He is so gracious, loving, faithful and merciful to us.
This past week God showed me I needed again to fully surrender my health completely to Him. I have been praying and pleading with God to take away the pain and the frustrations and to please give answers. But He’s asking me just let Him have control and He will take my health and plans and life and make out of them something beautiful. It’s amazing to me how God could give peace when we surrender things to Him. Now the question is does this make it easy? Does this mean I won’t have pain anymore? Does this mean there will be no more frustration and anxiety? No it does not. What it does mean is that I can have peace, contentment, and trust that this is all in His plan. And it’s not that I haven’t been trying to trust Him or be content in the path He has chosen but He’s showing me how to continue building contentment, joy, trust and commitment. He can give a joy that no other can and I praise Him for that.
“Sing to the Lord with Thanksgiving; sing praises on the harp to our God… The Lord takes pleasure in those who fear Him, in those who hope in His Mercy… Praise the Lord, O Jerusalem! Praise your God, O Zion! For He has strengthened the bars of your Gates; He has blessed your children within you. He makes peace in your borders, and fills you with the finest wheat.” Psalms 147:7,11,12-14
I hope your Thanksgiving weekend was blessed and full of remembering God’s blessings for us through this year. As we look around we see many things that disturb us or make us heart broken but OUR God is on the throne. God Bless You.