Grateful – In ALL Things
As a child, I often heard that I should be grateful in all things, good bad, or indifferent, just be grateful anyway. It never really made sense to me. Then, I began to realize that even out of the worst situations, good things come.
Left alone, a single mom, I began to realize the greatest benefits of life come when you don’t get exactly what you want from life. God knows what you need. Just be grateful when He allows what you need into your life. That’s the key, no matter what comes in life, be grateful for the opportunity to experience the miracle of life that will take you through the next events of your life with knowledge and understanding.
For instance, when I was single, raising my newborn baby girl, I celebrated Thanksgiving with family and friends, knowing I was alone in the midst of “couples” but I celebrated anyway. Later, married to a man who chose not to participate in holidays with the family, we continued celebrating the holiday, often alone in the midst of “couples”. I learned to be grateful for the fact that I had a husband even when he chose not to be there. When he eventually left, abandoning his responsibilities and his family, never returning, even to see his children… We knew how to celebrate the important events of life, even when they weren’t necessarily what we wanted in life.
Good things have come from those days. I have four amazing children. I have an absolutely amazing, wonderful granddaughter. I have a son-in-law who loves holidays. Those are enough, even when members of my family are not around for the holidays, I’m grateful I have family. I’m grateful for the opportunity to share the day with family or friends.
Several years ago, we found ourselves without family near, and chose to spend the day serving others in need. Our day was blessed because we simply chose to count our blessings.
Today, I find myself thinking about those who are away from family and friends, fighting for our country, supporting our liberty and sharing the day with strangers they never knew before. Specifically, I find myself looking for ways to make the day special for others, knowing that I honestly have all I could possibly want in my life and understanding that giving to others bring greater blessing than receiving.
God bless you each and every one!
Happy Thanksgiving. Make yourself a blessing in someone else’s life today!
Jan Verhoeff
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