Thanksgiving Thoughts

Thanksgiving is here once again, and though we learned in school that it was the celebration by the pilgrims celebrating the arrival, harvest and first year in the "New World" giving thanks to God.

I try to make sure that thanks to the Lord is on the top of my every day list, not just Thanksgiving day.

What it has become is a day of family, and you know, that's not bad. Family is something to be thankful for.

It is the number one traveled time of year, people looking 'homeward' where ever that may be. Gathering with parents, siblings, extended family-- the laughter of children of all ages!

I was blessed to be among about 23 family members today, covering 3 generations, a group that gets together for it's own brand of family fun and insanity each year, and I am thankful that they are mine.

Traditions like who gets the first deviled egg make it fun.


This is a time of year that stirs memories for many, I know it does for me... memories of many childhood Thanksgivings filled with my watching the parade on TV, then my Dad, Granddad and Uncle taking us kids to breakfast so 'the ladies' could get the food in the oven and most of the prep out of the way. And if the weather permitted, football in the yard with kids from the neighborhood until it was feast time.

Memories of my children small and us eating our cinnamon rolls in the morning, out of the oven they came and in went the turkey when we would host the family. Memories of so many happy times. Those memories are especially cherished now that some of those that were with us, are no longer here.

Take time this holiday season to make some memories, those around you will not always be there. Love them while you can, enjoy, appreciate and laugh with them!!

Keep the feeling of thankfulness in your heart all year, an attitude of gratitude makes life so much better.

Happy Thanksgiving and a very Merry Christmas season!!!

                                                    Mary

A.K.A Prairiemouse

So Thankful, So Important!

Driving along today, I found myself almost in tears... but these were not the tears I have gotten used to dealing with; those are the ones that come from sneak attacks of grief and loneliness... Today's tears were from the most profound feeling of thankfulness!!

I was driving along, running an errand and all of a sudden I felt something familiar, tears, welling up-- but there was something different going on inside of me, it wasn't the sadness that is usually there when this happens, it was a different feeling. I was literally shocked to realize why the tears were welling up, they were coming from, for a lack of a better way to describe it, an overwhelming sense of deep thankfulness within.

I have tried to make thankfulness a big part of my life, but recently I decided to begin a journal that has one purpose-- recording the things in my life I am thankful for. The decision to do this had come after one of those other moments of tears, I decided that I was going quit allowing myself to wallow in my loss and to start changing my focus, I chose to go back to the time of losing Glenn to cancer, and start journaling those things that the Lord has done since I started this chapter of my life... and there are many!! (I may share more on that in the future.)

I know the reality, I will still have those other tears, but I am making an effort to take a life of thankfulness to the next level. I want more of those overwhelming moments of thankfulness to hit me. 

My encouragement to anyone, no matter what is happening, no matter how dark the moment, there is always something to be thankful for, it may be something very small-- maybe just the fact there is coffee for the coffee pot, or it could be something very big... but there is ALWAYS something to be thankful for!

Blessings!!

Mary

A.K.A - Prairiemouse 

Childlike Faith

This morning at during worship service at church I observed a small child, just doing what they do. She would leave the security of her parents arms, and bounce and clap with the music, then she would wander, just a bit, look back, and return to that safety spot, close to their side. As parents, we want to see our children gain the boldness and confidence to move out from that tight spot in our arms, or close to our side, knowing that we are there for guidance and comfort when needed. The reason- this is how they grow to eventually become independent adults, and move forth into their own lives.

And as I watched her it got me thinking; I want to be like that, not afraid to step out, yet all the time, knowing that I am safe with in view and reach of my Heavenly Father. God is ever present, His eye is always on His children. When we need Him, all we have to do is to run to Him.

I know, I have those times that that I just want to stay there, in the security of His arms. And when I need this, He is there for that... but He is also there to encourage me to step out, moving into all the things that He has called me to do. 

That is what I am trying to do that with my life, I want to follow His lead and walk the path He has set out for me to walk. I want to do all that He has called me to do, and this means that I will have plenty of moments that I need to step out in Faith, knowing that He is always there for me to run to, because He is close at hand. I want to always keep moving forward, but to do this, I must keep my  heart on Him and my eyes and looking closely at Him.

His grace is so amazing, He sent His Son, Jesus, to give His life for me. Through my act of receiving Jesus as my Lord and Savior, I became a child of God, through the spirit of adoption. And as such I have the full blessings as a member of the family... 

So, I guess what I'm saying is that I want that Childlike Faith, and the confidence that comes with it.

Blessings!

Prairiemouse

A.K.A - Mary