I've tried to keep my mind on gratefulness this month especially when all around me is in complete chaos. Boxes stacked along walls, some labeled, others still open and waiting for odds and ends, seem to be the decor of my home and my life at the moment. The scary part is we have to be out of this place in one week and the scarier part is we have no place to go. Our hands are tied. Banks and mortgage lenders do not care how urgent it is for them to move through quickly and apparently don't care about dates and deadlines either and so we sit at their mercy, awaiting the moment they claim to have checked off all the boxes and completed their end. Why do they get to break deadlines and say its our problem? It gets a little frustrating when the same request is made three times by three different people. I thought this electronic age was supposed to simplify this process. Well as a good friend reminded me last night. God's plans will not be thwarted by man. So I rest in gratefulness that He has this situation under control. I often send a silent prayer up during the days and sleepless nights with the simple plea - whatever you have planned please reveal to me. And although the answer has yet to come about He gives me peace.
And so I continue into the chaos of a move into a house in much need of rehab and a new job and the holiday season and I attempt to be grateful. And I am! Don't get me wrong, I have much to be thankful for and I am reminded of it especially today as we celebrate thanksgiving. I have a warm place to live, a roof over my head and I have no doubt at all that should we not be able to move into our new place for a few more weeks I will still have a roof over my head and a warm place to sleep at night. I have many standby offers waiting in line. I have a belly full of good food and a freezer full as well. (hmm that could be problematic) I have employment that I am getting used to and the extra hours will help with the costs incurred by a move and the season of giving that is upon us. I have a feeling that this season will be different for us this year. I hope so anyway; I hope we are learning a lesson about what is truly important and not getting caught up in all the poof of a materialistic holiday.
And so I am grateful! I listen to the song 10,000 Reasons over and over and am reminded that bottom line - I have it all, God's grace and God's care, and I am grateful, so very grateful.
And so I will continue to list things I am thankful for long past the Thanksgiving Holiday and I will do my best to trust and be at peace with the situation at hand
I am thankful that I am not homeless - a homeless lady approached me the other night and asked me to buy her a can of sterno so she could warm her hands. A poignant reminder that I am kept warm.
I am thankful that I have options, realizing that not everyone does.
I am thankful that my contractor remains on standby, ready to move the minute papers are signed.
I am thankful that even with our plans for today thwarted, we have an invitation to dinner - to be with family and be reminded of how blessed we are.
I am thankful for my family, even though we are not all together and will soon be separated by thousands of miles we are still close at heart and can text, write and call each other whenever we need a word of encouragement.
I am thankful for friends - who fill in the gaps as if they were family, who offer, fun, and refreshment when the going gets tough.
I am thankful for the gift of peace - in my heart and in our land.
I am thankful for the ability to work for a wage that helps cover the balance in tough economical times.
I am thankful for these things and many, many more, everyday not just today, and I am thankful that we have the opportunity to share with others - even if it is just a can of sterno.
Have a Blessed Thanksgiving!
