Thankful

Many people have been sharing on their blogs and Facebook about all of the things they are thankful for this Thanksgiving. I’ve been mentally making my own list and thinking of the song, “Count Your Blessings”. I think it is so important that we each take time to realize all of the blessings and good things we have in our lives. This is part of why Thanksgiving is my favorite holiday. I love that there are no presents involved just food, family, and time to thank God for all He has done for us. So this Thanksgiving week, God has been helping me to put my own current situation into perspective. Yes, my time here has been way longer than I expected. Yes, it is very annoying to hit roadblock after roadblock. Yes, it is hard to watch your well-intentioned plans crumble. Yes, I would love to be with my family for this Thanksgiving and to kiss Emma on her birthday. BUT… I have so many things to thank the Lord for each and every day.


I think spending this much time in a third world country is always a good reminder of all of the things I take for granted. For example, I have about 5 outfits with me that I wear over and over again. The American part of me never wants to wear these clothes ever again and longs for my closet. But then I look around me at the countless people who wear rags every day.

There are some foods from home that I am craving and would love to eat. But then I realize I have a full tummy every night and so many around me do not. One of the housemaids recently shared how God was stretching her faith. She only had enough food to feed her children and she was very hungry. Then a couple of hours later a neighbor brought over a large plate of food to share. This puts my need for chips and salsa in perspective.

I long to see Emma and Avery and to hug them and play with them. Then I think about the single mom with HIV that I met the other day who said her biggest fear is dying and not knowing who will care for her children. She then went on tell us about how her teenage daughter was recently raped and now has HIV too. Wow, what do you say to that?

I think it’s annoying sleeping under a mosquito net every night, but at least I have one. I get irritated when boda and taxi drivers try to make me pay more because I am white, but at least I can pay them for a ride every day. I miss air conditioning, but I have a fan. The super-slow internet drives me crazy, but at least I have a way to communicate with my family every day. There are so many little things that I see and experience each day here that remind me of the many blessings in my life and also remind me just how spoiled I am.

There are so many other things I have to be grateful for…. I have an amazing husband.  Lately we’ve known a lot of couples that are struggling in their marriages. Insecurities, affairs, addictions plague these homes. I am grateful that I am married to my best friend. I love that he still makes me laugh and smile. I love that he knows me better than anyone else and always knows how to encourage me. I love that we are in this battle to bring Mercy home together.

I am thankful for my three beautiful daughters. I cannot imagine my life without them. They bring me so much joy and happiness. All three of them are strong and independent, yet very different too. I am amazed that I get the pleasure of being their mother. It’s not always easy, but it is definitely a very rewarding job. Their smiles, giggles, hugs, and kisses warm my heart every day.

I am thankful for my church family. Seriously, the people at First Baptist Mulvane are amazing. They’ve provided food for my family at least 3 times a week for the last 13 weeks! I’ve received countless encouraging emails and messages. Many have donated money to us, offered babysitting, cut our grass… you name it. I am so grateful for a church family that loves us and care for us in so many ways.

I am thankful for all of our friends and family, both old and new. I am thankful for technology. I am thankful for medicine and health care. I am thankful for my country and government. The list goes on and on. But most importantly I am thankful for salvation and for my God. Yes I am a wife, mother, and daughter, but most importantly I am a child of God. I am adopted. Adopted into God’s family. I am far from perfect, but I am forgiven. And that forgiveness comes only because of what Christ was willing to do for me and for you. I am so grateful that salvation does not have anything to do with what I can do to earn it, but instead it’s about what Christ did for us.

So no matter your circumstances you can be grateful. Grace, hope, peace and love… those are all gifts from God that can get you through any trials that you face. May each of you remember your blessings this Thanksgiving and look for ways you can be a blessing to others. Happy Thanksgiving!