Perspective.
Many people never have the chance to see the world, to leave the country, or even leave the state in which they were born. I have had the opportunity to travel on many different vacations and mission trips (for which I have a lot of people to be thankful to) and one thing in my life that I am very grateful for is perspective. The places I have been, the people I have met, the things I have seen, the stories I have heard, and the experiences I have had have all shown me just exactly how blessed I am. I have seen enough to give myself a good reality check whenever I need it (and sometimes when I don't think I need it). I know how short life is, what the important things in life really are and when to let the little things matter. And I am thankful.
Family.
I have been blessed with the best set of parents I could have dreamed up, one amazing sister, and a fabulous best friend who has become a sister; my family means the world to me. I have also been blessed with wonderful extended family. Even though my family is spread across the country most of the year, I know they are always there for me. I have also been beyond blessed with church family that spreads not only across this country but around the world. I know that I am loved and cared for by them, and when I need them, all I need to do is ask. It is so comforting to know that I have the Lord's Army on my side. I am thankful for my family.
Experiences.
I have been so blessed in my life with wonderful experiences to learn from, from school to trips to jobs. My most recent blessings have been wonderful internship experiences in a fantastic school district where I have learned the from the best in the education business. The knowledge and experience I have been fortunate enough to gain while interning with the schools I was placed with have given me the foundation on which I can build my life serving children. And I am so thankful!
Talents.
I have not always been as confident as I am now in my own talents but I know that God gave me my talents for a reason. I am extremely thankful for all of my talents and for my wide range of interests. I now know how I am to use them, and I plan on using them to the best of my abilities from here on out. And I am thankful.
Health.
I am not in the best shape in the world, and I have the occasional cold or bug, but I am for the most part healthy. I don't have any serious illnesses and I feel good most of the time. I know how rare a commodity that is. And I am thankful.
Material blessings.
I am but a struggling college student, yet I am among the richest in the world. I am reminded of this daily when I pray for my friends in Haiti who struggle to feed their families. I may be struggling to find a job in this economy, but I am far from poor and I am well aware of that. I am blessed beyond measure with a car, an apartment, clothes, shoes, electronics, furniture, and the list goes on. And I am thankful.
Friends.
Without my friends, I don't know where I would be. On a bad day or a good day, they are who I run to. When I need to vent or need to laugh, they are who I call. I have had some of the best friends I could have ever asked for who have been there for me since childhood, some who have recently entered my life who I couldn't imagine life without, and some in the middle who have stuck with me for years who are like family now. Some friendships were just meant to be. I am grateful for paths crossing when they are meant to and friendships growing like they do. And I am thankful.
Spiritual blessings.
The very best is last. The thing I am most thankful for is God sending His Son to die on a cross to save my soul. Without His sacrifice and His grace, there would be no reason, there would be no life, there would be nothing. I am thankful for perspective, family, experiences, talents, health, material blessings, and friends, and most of all I am thankful for grace, faith, love, hope, mercy, and salvation.
This Thanksgiving, I have more than ever to be thankful for, and even more than ever, I have more people in my life to be thankful for. If you are reading this, I have said a prayer of thanksgiving for you today.
Psalm 100:4 Enter his gates with thanksgiving, and his courts with praise! Give thanks to Him! Bless His name!
