As I read everyone's post on Facebook about what they are thankful for each day during the month of November, I find myself constantly reflecting on what I am thankful for, although I don't post it to Facebook. I often think that people get way too personal on Facebook. It's not just used as a "social networking" site anymore. Its not that I don't want to share with my friends what I am thankful for. It's just that sometimes I don't think that people are completely honest on Facebook and I like to go against the grain sometimes. I mean, of course we are all thankful for God, our family, our friends, etc. But, I find myself discovering that I am thankful for things that maybe aren't as obvious. But, they still make my heart scream with thanksgiving. For example...
-I am thankful that God whispers to me. I don't audibly HEAR God talking to me, but He definitely gives me gentle nudges (which I refer to as "whispers") all day, every day. It may be something small, like whispering for me to go and love on the kids. Or, it may be something large like whispering for me to step out on faith about something.
-I am thankful that my kids love each other. Ok, I know what you're thinking...blah, blah, blah. But, to me, it's so extra special that my kids love each other like they do. I constantly see them doing sweet things for each other. Sweet things that I don't think ALL siblings do for each other. Sadie takes care of Sawyer. Her little heart truly wants him to be okay in every situation. She rubs on his back if he's upset and she crawls up in the recliner with him while he does his breathing treatments so that he doesn't have to sit by himself. Sawyer loves to see Sadie's face light up when he goes and digs out an old favorite toy that she hasn't played with in a while and he hides it behind his back as to "surprise" her with it when he takes it to her. They love, love, love to play together. Even to the point that they will kick me out of the playroom just so that they can be alone together with their imaginations. I'm perfectly fine with that.
-I'm thankful for my family. But, even more than that general statement, I am thankful for my mom and dad. I am thankful that I have such close, different relationships with each of them. I am thankful that even though my parents are no longer "together", I can recollect memories of 18 years that I did have a complete family and for that, I am thankful. There are lots of kids whose parents get divorced when they are very young and they have no memories at all.
-I'm thankful for my children's health. Again, I know every parent is thankful for this. But, when I was pregnant with both of my kids, I went through times of numbing fear that something would be wrong with one of my kids. I am "that mom" that usually bursts into tears anytime I hear of another child that has cancer, passes away, etc. My kids are so healthy and so perfect and for that, I am thankful. I am thankful that, unlike many other parents, we don't have to take trips back and forth to the hospital, or keep up with medications every day.
-I'm thankful for Dennis. I'm thankful that I've loved him over half my life. I'm thankful that we have a HUGE history together and that I can barely remember life without him. I don't really have to worry that I will "find out something new" about him one day, because I pretty much know it all, and I am thankful for that certainty. He knows every detail of my past, and he is going to be in every detail of my future. I am thankful that he doesn't hound me about money. He lets me get my hair done, buy a shirt when I need some retail therapy, and go to dinner with my girlfriends without ever complaining. I am thankful that he loves our kids and he especially loves our little family. I am thankful that commitment actually means something to him and he doesn't take "marriage" lightly. I'm thankful that divorce is not an option with him.
Those are just a few things that my heart is thankful for. They might be a little different than what others perceive to be thankful for on Facebook. But, that's ok by me. I'm a lucky, lucky girl!
