I am so thankful to be home this Thanksgiving for TEN WHOLE DAYS! I didn't realize how much I needed that time until I got home. I am so thankful for many things, but I'll share a few:
1. Food that is made with love
2. The ability to burn candles (illegal in the dorms...not cool, but safe...I suppose)
3. Baths (not showers where you have to wear sandals)
4. Getting to hug my family whenever I want how ever much I want. It makes me so happy just to see my mom's face each morning, and to snuggle up with my daddy. I never realized how much I valued them until I didn't get to see them everyday. And of course my rascally little sister, who has become so inquisitive and increasingly literate since I saw her a month ago! It's kinda crazy to see the things I am learning in psychology pan out right before my very eyes in her. And my brother. Gotta love that kid...and he reminds me of the mess I was when I was 16...which makes me thankful that some of those messages my mom beat me over the head with finally sunk in and I'm so better for it.
So some of the things that I am thankful for are trivial (like the whole candles thing...) and truly I am thankful for Lipscomb and even the food, which is pretty good and hey, it keeps me alive. And when the showers that have the best water pressure and heat are all full, and I have to use the not as good ones, I am reminded that I MUST be thankful that I can take a shower each day, even multiple times a day. This is a commodity not afforded to the majority of the world's population. I am thankful for all of the things above, but tonight, I am especially overwhelmed with thankfulness for the Lord's faithfulness, to me, his frail daughter.
As the holidays have approached, memories of last year's struggles during this time have surfaced. I remember my frightened, hurt and broken self all to well. For too many days, and far too many nights, even after breaking through the thick of it, I have wrestled with frustration and guilt over those all those rough days. However, a little something has been stirring inside me to look on that struggle with fresh eyes. I may never have the answer to my many questions that can ultimately be boiled down to a single "why", but I can choose to praise YHWH for pulling me through. And holding me in His tight embrace even as I thrashed around trying to run away, cursing His name. Thinking like this brings glory to His name, and fills my heart with love for Him. Right now, I am amazed that he would care so much for me, and how that speaks such volumes of how my Abba views me as His precious daughter.
I realize how much I have grown and matured in the past year, and I am astounded. Even in the past six months. I praise the Lord for continuing to finish the good work he began in me, just like He said He would. The Lord, our God, our Father, our Rock, The Mighty Lion of Judah, our Redeemer IS FAITHFUL.
As I look at the work He has done in me over this short time, I am excited to see what He will continue to do in the future. And remembering His faithfulness eases my sometimes overbearing anxiety. Maybe the antidote to worry is thanksgiving? Seems like something that might just be worth trying.
"Devote yourselves to prayer with an alert mind and a thankful heart." Colossians 4:2
1. Food that is made with love
2. The ability to burn candles (illegal in the dorms...not cool, but safe...I suppose)
3. Baths (not showers where you have to wear sandals)
4. Getting to hug my family whenever I want how ever much I want. It makes me so happy just to see my mom's face each morning, and to snuggle up with my daddy. I never realized how much I valued them until I didn't get to see them everyday. And of course my rascally little sister, who has become so inquisitive and increasingly literate since I saw her a month ago! It's kinda crazy to see the things I am learning in psychology pan out right before my very eyes in her. And my brother. Gotta love that kid...and he reminds me of the mess I was when I was 16...which makes me thankful that some of those messages my mom beat me over the head with finally sunk in and I'm so better for it.
So some of the things that I am thankful for are trivial (like the whole candles thing...) and truly I am thankful for Lipscomb and even the food, which is pretty good and hey, it keeps me alive. And when the showers that have the best water pressure and heat are all full, and I have to use the not as good ones, I am reminded that I MUST be thankful that I can take a shower each day, even multiple times a day. This is a commodity not afforded to the majority of the world's population. I am thankful for all of the things above, but tonight, I am especially overwhelmed with thankfulness for the Lord's faithfulness, to me, his frail daughter.
As the holidays have approached, memories of last year's struggles during this time have surfaced. I remember my frightened, hurt and broken self all to well. For too many days, and far too many nights, even after breaking through the thick of it, I have wrestled with frustration and guilt over those all those rough days. However, a little something has been stirring inside me to look on that struggle with fresh eyes. I may never have the answer to my many questions that can ultimately be boiled down to a single "why", but I can choose to praise YHWH for pulling me through. And holding me in His tight embrace even as I thrashed around trying to run away, cursing His name. Thinking like this brings glory to His name, and fills my heart with love for Him. Right now, I am amazed that he would care so much for me, and how that speaks such volumes of how my Abba views me as His precious daughter.
I realize how much I have grown and matured in the past year, and I am astounded. Even in the past six months. I praise the Lord for continuing to finish the good work he began in me, just like He said He would. The Lord, our God, our Father, our Rock, The Mighty Lion of Judah, our Redeemer IS FAITHFUL.
As I look at the work He has done in me over this short time, I am excited to see what He will continue to do in the future. And remembering His faithfulness eases my sometimes overbearing anxiety. Maybe the antidote to worry is thanksgiving? Seems like something that might just be worth trying.
"Devote yourselves to prayer with an alert mind and a thankful heart." Colossians 4:2
No comments:
Post a Comment