I'm Thankful for

Thanksgiving is just a week away. As I consider all the things I should be thankful for, I am often drawn to some thoughts that were written by a lady who considered her life and all the things she was grateful for. I read it almost every Thanksgiving. It reminds me of the all my blessings that come disguised as “bumps in the road” of life. Here it is:

I'm thankful for all of the things we are all thankful for -family and home and job and country and its freedoms, food and clothing and material blessings, salvation and the church and the fellowship of believers.

But the things I'm especially thankful for are the lessons I've learned from life.

I'm thankful I was born and reared in poverty, for I learned to live simply and to appreciate what I have.

I'm thankful for my infirmities, because they taught me to better enjoy my health.

I'm thankful for fire and flood, because in losing my possessions I learned to "lay up treasures in heaven" and to share what I have as others have shared with me.

I'm thankful for my goings astray, for they taught me to trade my self-righteousness for understanding and compassion.

I'm thankful for my miscarriages, for they taught me how special my children are.

I'm thankful for a failed marriage, because I learned to fully appreciate a strong and loving and caring marriage.

I'm thankful for my losses, because they taught me which gains are really important.

I'm thankful for my failures that taught me humility and my successes that gave me the will to try again.

I'm thankful for criticisms and reprimands and the truth spoken in love, for these have keep me on the straight path.

I'm thankful for hate and indifference, for I've learned to love and accept love.

I'm thankful for friends who never gave up on me, for they are more precious than gold and taught me about real friendship.

I'm thankful for the roads I've traveled, however muddy and potholed, for they have led me to the foot of the Cross. Through the lessons I've learned and by the grace of God they shall lead me day by day closer to the One who loves and forgives and draws all men unto himself.