In the midst of all the random "I'm thankful for..." posts that have been smattered all over my facebook newsfeed this month, one person shared a quote about how being grateful was useless unless it was expressed.
Somehow, I find "giving thanks" weird. I feel grateful and awed, surely. But somehow, stating it cheapens it, to me, at least. Because I feel it. But maybe I need to take the time to write it out. To stop, and consider. To be grateful when it is hard to *feel* grateful, particularly around the holidays, when travel sucks, and family hackles rise.
1. I'm grateful for heat. And no shortage of blankets with which to aid the furnace in keeping me warm when I choose to keep the thermostat turned a little low to keep my my bill manageable. So I'm grateful to have the choice of heat. Of knowing that when I come home, after my brief stint in the chill air, I can turn a knob and be warmer 20 minutes later. Of knowing that even when I turn the thermostat way down when I leave the house, having a house kept at 45 degrees is immeasurably better than a house as cold as it is outside, considerably colder.
2. I'm grateful for the ability to travel. More specifically, the ability to travel on my own terms, and not have to rely on public transit. A place to travel to, also. I could be in another country, on another continent, or on the other side of the country for Thanksgiving. But, I am within a 5 hour drive from my family, that makes the possibility of traveling for the holiday a possibility. Oh, and the weather forecasting that let's me plan my travel so I don't drive straight into a snowstorm. ;)
3. I'm grateful for my work, and I'm grateful for the doors that are opening for my next steps--What's next? Back to West Michigan? A new place in Illinois? I'm grateful to have found this work and this path.
4. I'm grateful for the friends I have who know the real me. I am grateful to the people in my life who have helped me see the real me and have helped me to love her.
5. I'm grateful for a 13 year journey with Jesus. All of those seasons. All of those moments. And the pleasure of knowing that I have many more seasons and moments with him to experience. And knowing that all of those seasons and moments are invited by him. <3 p="">
Somehow, I find "giving thanks" weird. I feel grateful and awed, surely. But somehow, stating it cheapens it, to me, at least. Because I feel it. But maybe I need to take the time to write it out. To stop, and consider. To be grateful when it is hard to *feel* grateful, particularly around the holidays, when travel sucks, and family hackles rise.
1. I'm grateful for heat. And no shortage of blankets with which to aid the furnace in keeping me warm when I choose to keep the thermostat turned a little low to keep my my bill manageable. So I'm grateful to have the choice of heat. Of knowing that when I come home, after my brief stint in the chill air, I can turn a knob and be warmer 20 minutes later. Of knowing that even when I turn the thermostat way down when I leave the house, having a house kept at 45 degrees is immeasurably better than a house as cold as it is outside, considerably colder.
2. I'm grateful for the ability to travel. More specifically, the ability to travel on my own terms, and not have to rely on public transit. A place to travel to, also. I could be in another country, on another continent, or on the other side of the country for Thanksgiving. But, I am within a 5 hour drive from my family, that makes the possibility of traveling for the holiday a possibility. Oh, and the weather forecasting that let's me plan my travel so I don't drive straight into a snowstorm. ;)
3. I'm grateful for my work, and I'm grateful for the doors that are opening for my next steps--What's next? Back to West Michigan? A new place in Illinois? I'm grateful to have found this work and this path.
4. I'm grateful for the friends I have who know the real me. I am grateful to the people in my life who have helped me see the real me and have helped me to love her.
5. I'm grateful for a 13 year journey with Jesus. All of those seasons. All of those moments. And the pleasure of knowing that I have many more seasons and moments with him to experience. And knowing that all of those seasons and moments are invited by him. <3 p="">
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