Every November, people begin to reflect on the past year. Most make a list of what they are thankful for. I usually do this every year, however, this year's list is a little more special than previous years' lists. This year, in particular, has been a challenging and eventful one for my family.
This year my family sold our childhood home and moved towns, my dad left our church of 13 years and followed God's plan of serving a different church, and my younger brother went off to college and left my parents' nest empty. This year, each of my family members has experienced loss in some way, whether it be a friend or a friend's family member. God has done big things in each of our lives. With that being said, here is this year's gratitude list.
1. I am thankful for the Bible – God's word. I am so fortunate to serve a perfect and good God. This year, the Bible has truly served as a guidebook on how to live my life and how to deal with the difficult situations that life brings.
2. I am thankful for my family. They are constantly encouraging and always push me to be the best person that I can be, always striving to help me reach my goals and live out my dreams.
3. I am thankful for Christian parents who raised me to be strong in my faith. If it weren't for them, then life would be a series of disappointing events and, probably, a lot of depressing days.
4. I am thankful that I am able to attend a private Christian university where the values line up with that of God's word. Samford University truly cares about each of their students and desires for them to be men and women of God who succeed not only in their careers, but in their faith in God as well.
5. I am thankful for friends who know me better than I know myself. I'm thankful for a relationship that allows us to hold each other accountable and uplift each other when times are tough. Even better than that, I am thankful for lifelong friends who celebrate life with me every day!
6. I am thankful for our new (beautiful) home where we will start making new memories with family and friends and for the past memories with the old house and town that we were a part of for so long.
7. I am thankful for our new church family and the excitement that brings –new people, new music, new messages, and room for new growth.
8. I am thankful for our country and the brave men and women who represent us and fight for our continued freedom every day.
9. I am thankful for my salvation and God's promise. It is because of this that I am able to wake up every day and, despite the positive or negative situations occurring in my life, I can rejoice because God is (always) good.
Happy Thanksgiving from my family to yours and may your holiday be filled with the joy of family and friends!
"Praise the Lord! Oh give thanks to the Lord, for he is good, for his steadfast love endures forever!" -Psalm 106:1
