For the last month I have been reading about all the thankful things in my friends lives through status messages on facebook. Many of my friends began by posting this:
Let’s see how many people can do this. Every day this month until Thanksgiving, think of one thing that you are thankful for and post it as your status. “Today I am thankful for…” The longer you do it, the harder it gets! Now if you think you can do it then repost this message as your status to invite others to take the challenge, then post what YOU are thankful for today.
I commend them for attempting to do this. I chose not to participate on facebook. But I would like to now post 27 things that I am thankful for here to make up for my lack of participation on facebook.
Here goes nothing:
1. For my wife and my best friend. She stands beside me in all aspects of my life, she pushes me to do my best no matter what the obstacles are, she seems to love me more and more each day, evenn the parts that I may not love…
2. For my son, who is one of the most important people in my life. He is bright, active and he is always ready to have fun. He is smart and fun to be around and he always surprises me. I love coming home to him and hearing about his day.
3. For my daughter, who at 2 years old already has me wrapped around her little finger. She gets so excited every time I come home from work. She makes me laugh and cry in a matter of seconds. She is going to grow up and be a beautiful, intelligent, independent woman.
4. For a church that has been patient with a first call pastor. They work with me as I learn what it means to be a pastor and they allow me to work with them as a congregation in the community that we live in.
5. For our house. Even though we may not own it yet, we are happy to be settled in a house that we can almost call our own, and we can feel completely settled for the first time in our life together as a family.
6. For me extended family. I love my parents and my brothers who bring so much to our lives. I may not say it enough but there is no measure of gratitude I can express for the positive presence they have been and continue to be in my life.
7. For my friends who are like family. I have the best friends a person could ask for….I have been inspired, awed, humbled, and wowed over and over again in my life by these people. I am thankful for any time that I get to spend with them (because it is not much these days). I miss them but I am thankful for the quality of time that I do spend with them and I look forward to that more than getting presents at Christmas.
8. For all of those who have died this past year. So many people walk into our lives and make lasting impressions on our hearts….I give thanks for them.
9. For music — so many times I don’t have the right words for a certain situation and so many times music steps in and gives the words and/or the sound to complete my thoughts.
10. For celebrations, this year I celebrated my 5 year anniversary with my wife, my first anniversary of being at the church I serve and the first anniversary of my ordination…..I look forward to celebrate more in the years to come.
11. For the opportunity to work with the youth of my church. I love youth ministry and I am thankful for being able to have a congregation that sees my passion and ability to work with the young people of the church and I am thankful for the opportunity to do so on a daily basis.
12. For vacation….do I need to say more?
13. For the opportunity to serve, especially during our trip to New Orleans this past summer.
14. For my heath. Even though I continue to struggle with some health issues, I am thankful for the health that I do have an the opportunity to continue to live a healthier lifestyle.
15. For colleagues that have been so important to my ministry this past year. For my colleagues who check in with me and who offer advice as to how to improve my ministry. For my colleagues who just lend a listening ear.
16. For new beginnings………
17. For opportunities to walk with people in the best and worst times of their lives.
18. For the ELCA who struggles with its identity as a denomination. For people who are able to have a constructive conversation about their beliefs and interpretation of the Bible. For those who may disagree with decisions by the ELCA but choose to work from within rather than leave or withhold money.
19. For the leadership of bishops, especially Bishop Hanson and Bishop Jerge.
20. For my pets, I am thankful for our dog and two cats. I love them and I can’t imagine my life without them.
21. For my ability to self criticize. For my ability to see my mistakes and not to get frustrated with myself but to grow and blossom as an individual as a leader.
22. For things that make my life easier (ie technology) my iphone, my laptop, wireless Internet, Google, spanning sync, MoblieMe, ect
23. For the things that I take for granted — being a white male, living in America, freedom, an education, a job, a family, my health, my cars, electricity, running water ect
24. For all those who fight to serve our country. May God bless them in the work that they do.
25. For DVR (can this count as two?)
26. For the stress releases in my life: music, working out, television. I will need them more and more the closer we get to Christmas.
That is my list, I am sure that I am not including everything — because it was not hard to come up with the many blessings in my life. I feel blessed!
I hope that everyone who reads this had a blessed Thanksgiving.
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