A post..

In the year 1621, the Pilgrims held their first Thanksgiving feast. They invited the great Indian chief Massasoit, who brought ninety of his brave Indians and a great abundance of food. Governor William Bradford and Captain Miles Standish were honored guests. Elder William Brewster, who was a minister, said a prayer that went something like this: 'We thank God for our homes and our food and our safety in a new land. We thank God for the opportunity to create a new world for freedom and justice."


Wow, it has been quite awhile since I have been here. Guess I have not been all that newsworthy or thoughtful. I love to read the blogs of my friends who all have great insight into life in general.

So, today is Thanksgiving and as I got up this morning, I was thinking of the list of things to be thankful for..here goes.

My relationship with Jesus
Grace for the moment
A roof over my head, food on the table, clothing, ice for my drink, toilet paper..in that order
My parents
My nephew
My brother
My fabulous friends who continue to amaze me with their awesome tenacity to just live life as it comes (you inspire me, by the way)
Great food with good company (today, I mean)
The extended family (yes, all of them)
Second cousins between the ages of 2 and 13 (and they are just too cute!)
My health
Freedom from incarceration
Facebook, which has allowed me to connect with old friends who are now new friends (since we are all different people now)
Freedom to pray and practice my religion without fear of torture
Did I say Jesus??

This is the one day all year that I am really struck to stop and look at the blessings. There is a small wall hanging in my apartment that says "Blessings brighten when we count them", I look at it daily and remember there is much to be thankful for. Really. When you stop to look at it, start to count them..they far outweigh the yuckiness you may have around you.

I got to have a one to one visit with my Pastor this week. I look up to this guy because his teaching is always reality based and always thoughtful and insightful. We are the very same age, yet I still think his outlook rocks. One of the things I came away with that day, after half an hour in his study, was that sometimes we get so caught up in the loftiness of what could be that we lose sense of what really is and living in that realm. As in, being content where you are so you can move on to another realm of reality later. If we live in the what could be, we are missing out on the right now. And honestly, living in the what if really does suck. You are never happy and always worried.

There is a verse from the book of James that keeps running through my head..it goes "All good and perfect things are from above". All the goodness I have is from God. That should be enough.

I hope your Thanksgiving was a thankful, thoughtful one. Do share your list of Thanks here..would love to know what they are.

Peace,
Sara

You're blessed when you're content with just who you are—no more, no less. That's the moment you find yourselves proud owners of everything that can't be bought. You're blessed when you've worked up a good appetite for God. He's food and drink in the best meal you'll ever eat. Matthew 5:5-6 (The Message)