Thankful

It may be a day or two late, but there is ne'er a problem with gratefulness. I had a particularly relaxing Thanksgiving day, with more food than I would ever need. I was surrounded by family as we preparred, ate, cleaned, and watched a movie. Unfortunately I don't really have extended family in the nearby vicinity, so holidays are normally a low-key experience. Sometimes I wish I spent my holidays with rooms full of people, but sometimes it's nice to spend the day in sweatpants and be a loud enough voice to choose the movie. However you spend your Christmas kick-off party (AKA Thanksgiving), it is important to actually stop and be grateful for all the amazing things we have been blessed with. Here are just a snippet of the many things I am thankful for:


1. My relationships. I feel like I have really great people who surround me, that genuinely care about me, support me, and challenge me. Thanks guys.


2. Work. Although I love one job and dislike the other, I am very grateful to be employed in this economy. On a near-daily basis I see hurting people who are out of work, need food, and are in desperate situations. I am glad that, although I would be more comfortable with more money, I am stable and doing fine for now. Grateful.

3. Fun things and laughter. I feel like I have fun with my life. I laugh a lot. Whether that is because I see humor in the most random things, or because my life is circumstantially more humorous, I am not sure. I am not one who does a lot of crazy, unique, or different things but I have fun and I laugh plenty. Life is pretty fun.

4. Literacy and entertainment. Man, do I love books! I can't imagine a world without the wonder of stories and entertainment. Therefore, I am happy to be literate because I think this is something many people take for granted. I know I do.

5. The most important, and this year's "I am thankful for"...God and his blessings. I know this encompasses a lot, but when I stop to think about it I am more than just slightly overwhelmed. God put me in today's world (as opposed to say, Europe in the 14th century), in one of the most thriving nations in the world. I am free to worship him, I have the a world of resources at my fingertips with the click of a mouse, and I have freedoms that I take for granted. Not only do I have multiple copies of the bible, but I have one on my phone. As a woman I enjoy equality and I can choose whoever I want to marry. I can wear a tank top in the summer. I complain because I ate too much on Thanksgiving (talk about first world pains). It just seems to be that since "for those who are given much, much will be required in return" (Luke 12:48) I have a lot expected of me. I better get on it.