Overflowing with thanksgiving

The recent long weekend provided time (finally!) for rest and a time of reflection for the many (oh, so many!) things I have to be thankful for. To make an all-inclusive list of God's blessings to me and my family would be never ending, but here is a start.

• an amazing husband
• supportive family on both sides: particularly loving parents, grandparents, brothers, sisters
• a beautiful and cheerful niece
• old and new friends
• a welcoming church family, a place to worship together
• a home to call our own
• friendly neighbors
• not one, but two jobs, when so many are without
• students that make me smile, being able to pray with them
• helpful colleagues that share my faith
• blessings from NYU
• a free country
• health and strength
• heat when it's cold, air conditioning when it's warm
• food in abundance
• clothes for every season
• hobbies that bring joy
• His beautiful creation

But most of all... His Love, evidenced by the gift of His Son ...

the sacrifice He made for me, for you, for all of us.

This blog has helped make me more aware of these blessings, and intentional about enjoying and giving thanks for each one. Seeking out these blessings -- no matter how big or small -- has become more natural for me throughout this year, and been a good reminder that Thanksgiving does not come once a year. Our gratitude to God should overflow every day - even when it is hard to be thankful, especially when it is hard to be thankful. 


I find it most difficult to give thanks in times of busyness - not that there is a lack of things to be grateful for (certainly not!) but I feel there is less time to dwell on the blessings of each day. I hoped that this blog would help me make time to give thanks and share my moments of joy with others -- which it has -- however, updating my blog daily has also become one more thing to do each day.


After much thought, I have decided to continue listing the blessings of each day, but in a different way. I plan to keep a journal that I will write in each morning about the day before. I also hope to continue sharing some of these "little things" with you, but I am no longer committing to do so on a daily basis. I will update the blog as time allows (with lists, pictures, or perhaps even longer pieces like this one). I hope you understand -- thank you for following. I hope my blog has encouraged you to seek out the blessings of each day as well. Stay tuned for more of life's "little things" ... and be grateful! Happy Thanksgiving!