Gratitude: America

 

It is Election Day in the United States of America, and the world is turning faster than ever, and I wonder how it will all shake out as we are stuck on this insane merry-go-round. That said, I love my country. I have ancestors who left their homelands to take a chance across the sea to come to American soil and make a new life. I feel their love, sense of adventure, boldness for freedom and liberty, and how their hopes and dreams for a good future are now on my shoulders to carry. What a blessing and privileged to be part of God's promises to His children. I love being an American, and my heart is full of gratitude. 

Gratitude: Food

 

Whenever Gratitude Month rolls along, I try to take a step back to notice every good thing in life, and food is at the top of the list. We actually need food to live, and I have never gone a day of my life without the food I need and most of the time the food that I want. And this fact is something to be truly grateful for. My heart is full thinking about how I have been watched over every day to have this thing that I need, and I believe it is a blessing from God because of my parents' hopes and prayers for me and mine. They always would make sure I had what I needed and some of what I wanted even after having my own family, and I just know they are helping to keep us taken care of somehow. 

Gratitude: Friends

 

It has not always been this way, knowing how how blessed my life is to be so full of friends. I used to take for granted growing up on the same street in the same house in the same town that my mom and her mom grew up in. There is just something special about people knowing you and your family and caring about you. I also used to think no one could like me, taking for granted all of the friends who I could not see or thought they were just putting up with me. I feel so thankful right now as I contemplate just how many people are my friends. It is amazing and wonderful. 

Gratitude: Movement

 

Being able to move—even more specifically walk—is one thing I had never thought to be deeply thankful for, but the past two summers have had injuries that affected my ability to walk, and I am so thankful to be able to move my body. I have pain almost every single step I take still, but I am able to move my body and not be stuck home or stuck in a wheelchair, dependent on anyone to get me where I need or want to be, and my gratitude is immense. There are many people who do not have freedom of movement, and I only had a small taste of that life, and it was extremely difficult for me to manage and cope. I thank God every day that I have been able to recover as much as I have for which I am also truly grateful. 

 

Gratitude: Time

 

Today, this first day of November and Gratitude Month, I am thankful for the gift of time. As a teacher and single mom, I do not always have time for things I want to do, and I was able to arrange my schedule to give me time to do what I want to do most right now. It looked like cleaning my home, sorting through Christmas decor, and working on a mini DIY project I have been wanting to do for a few weeks. That might not sound very exciting, but it was rejuvenating, and I am so thankful to have had the time to unwind.