November 27 2014

November 27 2014 Greetings My Friend Today is Thanksgiving Day, a day to give thanks to God. I learned in school the pilgrims were thankful that first year that they had made it. The Indians helped them grow corn. I learned that the Pilgrims came to America to have the opportunity to worship God the way they wanted to. When I look at this holiday in that context I see a deeper understanding of being thankful. Many pilgrims died that first year. The journey over was difficult. In all of this sadness and struggle though the pilgrims found much to be thankful for. I learn this lesson day in and day out even today. My holidays are generally not surrounded by close family members for a variety of reasons. This makes me sad but in the ensuing years I’ve learned to enjoy the holidays with or without the perceived “family” Hallmark moments. I’ve met Jesus on a deeper level. Usually we go to church and for some reason in church I meet God on a more intimate level. Many holidays Junior and I go home and I make us a nice meal. We talk to family on the phone and at bedtime we are happy to have had another year together. It works out real nice. Through the years I have learned to take Thanksgiving day into my everyday. In the early years of my faith journey I started writing out 10 things I was grateful for each day. As I learned to pray I made part of my prayer time about thanking God for the largest and smallest things of my life. We have a home, have had one. We have heat, air conditioning, an income, food to eat, clothes to wear for each season and it is hard to feel so all alone and unwanted. I am also learning that God gives us what we need. I am learning the difference between wants and needs because sometimes I think my wants are needs. When I break down the wants and needs I start to see that the smallest things in life are so much more important. I may want a big house but I don’t need it. In my older years a big house would soon become a burden to keep up and pay utilities for. A small house is just right. I may think having a nice diamond is a sign of my husband’s affection for me. I learn that the ring isn’t the true sign of love but it is the little things he does that means way more. I have an idea about how part of the house should look. My husband listens to my idea, implements it and by doing that he is showing me my value. That means way more than a fancy ring. As I learn to differentiate my needs and wants I find the truly valuable things in life. It is those little tiny moments and things that bless me the most. I grow even more in my thankful journey as I learn the difference. Today when I want something and it does not come to pass I know to look deeper to see if it is a want or a need. The Holy Spirit helps me to learn the difference and as I accept this difference I find peace in having my needs met and I am able to let the wants go by the wayside. God also has given me a want from time to time and I learn I am able to let go if need be and enjoy the needs more so. God only wants our best and in the end the needs of life is truly our best. May God bless you and keep you make His face shine on you. Love Janet