GRATITUDE: the quality or feeling of being thankful

My Helper, the Holy Spirit, gave me a direction today that I know will be most helpful for me and I am so grateful!  Each time that I begin to feel sorry for myself, especially when I have to say good-bye to my children and their spouses or my granddaughter....I am choosing to move directly into a state of gratitude, (probably AFTER I shed some tears.)  So today, with additional inspiration from my "One Thousand Gifts" book I am going to list a bunch of things that I am thankful for.


I HAVE to begin with my LORD and Savior, Creator of the Universe, King of the World, Sacrificial Lamb, Lover of my soul, Gracious God.  I am in never ending awe of who HE is.  I cannot imagine my life, as an adult, without HIM.  He fills all of the emptiness in me with HIS abounding LOVE.  HE reminds me all of the time that HE gives me life and gives it abundantly!  (John 10:10) WOW, am I thankful for that!


Then is my hubby, Glenn.  He is God's best for me without a doubt!  He loves me unconditionally and believe me if he didn't, he would've been out the door a long time ago.  I have been a major project in slowly becoming somewhat of what God designed me to be as a wife.  I have been domineering, strong-willed and outspoken and my gracious husband has been so patient with me.  Thankfully, I listened to God when He strongly called me into submission.  It is one of the most profound moments of my life!  I can still remember the day and it was He and I alone for a period of time,  sometimes I almost think that I audibly heard His voice.  I didn't, it just was so profound and evident that HE was demanding my obedience in submitting to my husband, that it feels like I heard Him with an audible voice.   And THAT, I am so thankful for.


Next, are my children and their spouses.  Brent, our son, I am so thankful for his sense of humor, his easy going character and his desire to be a Biblical husband and father.  He has a zest for life and not too much phases him.  He just goes with the flow and accepts what the Father brings his way.  Christy, his wife, is a godly woman that Glenn and I prayed for long before Brent was a young adult.  I am thankful for her desire to be a godly wife to our son and a Biblical mother/teacher/disciplinarian to our granddaughter,  Madeline.   Cara, our daughter, I am so thankful that God allowed me to be a part of His growing her into a beautiful  and godly woman.  The process was painful at times and her getting fibromyalgia, made it even more difficult.  All in all, I am thankful that God used her in my life to strengthen my hope, when I felt hopeless at times.  I am thankful for the encourager she is in my life.  Her hubby, Daniel, is also a Godsend.  I am thankful for his teachable spirit and his unconditional love for our daughter and the leader he desires to be for her.  Finally, Madeline, my beautiful, fun granddaughter God gave us.  I am thankful for her energy and the joy that overflows in her.  I am thankful that God has given me a desire to be purposeful in her life and to pray for her heart to be tender towards Him,  so that she will receive Him as Savior someday.  I will be SO thankful for that day!


I am also thankful for:  our church, our friends and family, our jobs, our home, our vehicles, our furniture, food, drink, good coffee, clothes, eyesight, hearing, good health, sweet neighbors, trees, flowers, seasons, sweets, books, my Bible, my phone, airplanes, Skype, my MacBook, rain, snow, sunshine, sunrises, sunsets, the ocean, music, candy, good movies, laughter, good preaching, naps, picnics, soft towels, candles, chimes, cameras, anticipating our move to China, surprises and joy.


I want to live in a state of gratitude and I am thankful that my Father will give me that desire of my heart.