Thankful

It's about 4:30am, and I've just finished feeding the baby. I woke, not to his crying, but to the knowledge that my husband was changing his diaper. Right there are two things to be thankful for.

I went to bed last night with this delightful sense of having so much and being so happy. Our lives are full and busy and loud and chaotic and good and I love it. I am struck with a profound sense of gratitude for all the goodness God has poured out on my life.

1 Thessalonians 5:18  Give thanks in all circumstances, for this is the will of God for you in Christ Jesus

I think we must not only give thanks for the good and the not-so-good, knowing they are gifts from a sovereign God, but we must also give thanks for the details, the moments that we are in at any given time, lest we presume upon God's goodness and assume that we deserve the good we have or fail to see Him in the circumstances we would not choose for ourselves. I can thank Him for:

• the familiar nighttime sounds of my home
• my son's smile when he catches me watching him
• seeing my girls write in their prayer journals and the knowledge that they are praying for people
• filling my gas tank for less than $75(!)
• the knowledge that though I don't care for Dan's new hair cut, it'll grow back (ahem)
• the feel of lovely yarn in my hands
• my husband bringing me coffee in my favorite mug

Details, to be sure. Perhaps inconsequential to most, but these are the details and the moments that make up the life that I am so thankful for.

When you sit down to your turkey this afternoon and give thanks, don't forget what our Pilgrim forefathers remembered - whether your times are fat with blessing or feeling a little lean, all our thanks and praise can and should only go to Him, the Giver of all good gifts. How can we be properly thankful without One to direct our thanks to?

Happy Thanksgiving, everyone.