I have been sitting here trying to figure out what to say about Thanksgiving that hasn't been said a hundred or a thousand times already.... I was going through some of my old posts and found this one from 2008- it seemed to fit perfectly how I am feeling this week....
You turned my wailing into dancing;
You removed my sackcloth and clothed me with joy,
that my heart may sing to You and not be silent.
O LORD my God, I will give You thanks forever.
Psalm 30:11,12
It seems a shame to me that we set aside only one day a year to focus on thanks and gratitude. I know that I need to be thankful more often, it sometimes seems that days go by without me whispering even a few words of gratitude to God. I just get so caught up in the day to day stuff of life, that I forget how blessed I really am....
For God's unwavering and fierce love for me....
For an imperfect yet completely wonderful family....
For friends who would drop anything and everything to come to my rescue, if need be....
For the opportunity to live in a country where I can say what I want (even if I'm wrong), where I can worship Whomever and however I want, where I have a say in our government.... I don't think that here in America we really realize how remarkable that is.... The freedoms we have can only be truly appreciated if we go to other countries and experience the fear and control that people live under on a daily basis....
For never being in need of food, clothing, shelter....
And for the OPPORTUNITY to help others out of my blessed abundance and gracious plenty...
From everyone who has been given much, much will be demanded; and from the one who has been entrusted with much, much more will be asked. Luke 12:48
As Americans, we live in the wealthiest and most prosperous country in the history of the world...
Sometimes, I think about the silly things that I allow myself to get upset over.... But still, sometimes things just hurt.... disappointments in life, loved ones letting us down or hurting our feelings.... not tragedies, but still painful. Sometimes I think that I have no right to ever get upset about things, because there are people in our world who deal with tragedy on a daily basis... who will never know peace... who will never know how it feels to not go without, even for one day....
But I realize that God, while His heart breaks for these tragedies, feels my pain too. He knows. He knows my disappointment, my hopelessness and helplessness at times. He knows that life is oftentimes painful, for all of us. And as our Father, He understands.
Are not five sparrows sold for two pennies? Yet not one of them is forgotten by God. Indeed, the very hairs of your head are all numbered. Don't be afraid; you are worth more than many sparrows. Luke 12:6,7
I know everyone is so busy this time of year. Personally, I like the busyness- for me it is fun, joyous- shopping, decorating, singing along to my favorite carols. But the busyness sometimes makes it easy for me to forget just how much I have to be thankful for.
I would ask that everyone take just 10 minutes and visit one of the sites listed below. See the work that God is doing, through the hands of His servants here on earth. Please take time to be thankful for what we have, and for people who are willing to help others even on the far edges of our world (and in our own towns). Please pray for these organizations, for their workers, and for those who contribute monetarily to them to make the work possible. Maybe you will be moved to make a donation to one of these worthy organizations, to help them continue their work.
World Vision
For God's unwavering and fierce love for me....
For an imperfect yet completely wonderful family....
For friends who would drop anything and everything to come to my rescue, if need be....
For the opportunity to live in a country where I can say what I want (even if I'm wrong), where I can worship Whomever and however I want, where I have a say in our government.... I don't think that here in America we really realize how remarkable that is.... The freedoms we have can only be truly appreciated if we go to other countries and experience the fear and control that people live under on a daily basis....
For never being in need of food, clothing, shelter....
And for the OPPORTUNITY to help others out of my blessed abundance and gracious plenty...
From everyone who has been given much, much will be demanded; and from the one who has been entrusted with much, much more will be asked. Luke 12:48
As Americans, we live in the wealthiest and most prosperous country in the history of the world...
Sometimes, I think about the silly things that I allow myself to get upset over.... But still, sometimes things just hurt.... disappointments in life, loved ones letting us down or hurting our feelings.... not tragedies, but still painful. Sometimes I think that I have no right to ever get upset about things, because there are people in our world who deal with tragedy on a daily basis... who will never know peace... who will never know how it feels to not go without, even for one day....
But I realize that God, while His heart breaks for these tragedies, feels my pain too. He knows. He knows my disappointment, my hopelessness and helplessness at times. He knows that life is oftentimes painful, for all of us. And as our Father, He understands.
Are not five sparrows sold for two pennies? Yet not one of them is forgotten by God. Indeed, the very hairs of your head are all numbered. Don't be afraid; you are worth more than many sparrows. Luke 12:6,7
I know everyone is so busy this time of year. Personally, I like the busyness- for me it is fun, joyous- shopping, decorating, singing along to my favorite carols. But the busyness sometimes makes it easy for me to forget just how much I have to be thankful for.
I would ask that everyone take just 10 minutes and visit one of the sites listed below. See the work that God is doing, through the hands of His servants here on earth. Please take time to be thankful for what we have, and for people who are willing to help others even on the far edges of our world (and in our own towns). Please pray for these organizations, for their workers, and for those who contribute monetarily to them to make the work possible. Maybe you will be moved to make a donation to one of these worthy organizations, to help them continue their work.
World Vision
Therefore, since we are receiving a kingdom that cannot be shaken, let us be thankful, and so worship God acceptably with reverence and awe. Hebrews 12:28
Happy Thanksgiving!
Happy Thanksgiving!
P.S. In addition to Thanksgiving preparations, Samantha (my daughter and guest blogger extraordinaire) and I have been busy working on the December Newsletter. In a few months there will be some exciting changes to the newsletter! It will still be free and full of recipes and projects, and we will continue to publish it about 7 times per year. If you would like to subscribe [yes, it's FREE :)], you can do so at the upper right bar of this blog.
Wonderful post and so many forget to remember their blessings, each and every day. I always end my night with thanks for the blessings I have had that day, no matter how small.
ReplyDeleteI hope you and your family have a wonderful Thanksgiving, filled with love and blessings.
Debbie
Thank you for such a thoughtful Thanksgiving post. We all need to remember to be thankful for the abundance that we have. I hope you and your family have a blessed Thanksgiving.
ReplyDeleteThis was such a touching post. Thank you for sharing this, Jacquelynne. You put into words the things that I have trouble saying sometimes....there are times when my heart is so full that I tear up and can hardly speak. God is so good. Happy Thanksgiving to you and your family. :)
ReplyDeleteAmen!
ReplyDelete