What I am Thankful For

I have many things to be thankful for. The first thing that comes to mind when I think of what I’m thankful for is God. Think about it: I have God to thank for giving me the things I’m thankful for. I mean, I was trying earlier to imagine my life without Him, and to be honest with you, if it weren’t for Jesus, I most likely wouldn’t be anywhere close to where I am today. I think I would feel empty, because with Him in my life, I feel complete. I notice when I’m separated from God. I notice when I’m in love with God.  Frankly, without Him, I would be nothing. I would have no purpose. I don’t deserve any of the love He gives to me (which is a LOT), and I don’t deserve any of His grace of mercy. Hence, I am MOST grateful for Him. He is above all things in the world and in my life.

Number two on my list of things to be thankful for is my family. I certainly have witnessed broken families in my life and I am so thankful that I don’t have one. I am able to come home after school and just talk and talk and talk about my day and my struggles and my life and my friends and, well, everything! My amazing parents are everything that a kid needs. They raised me in a stable home where I get fed every day and loved more than I can imagine. They both lead a great example of living life on mission as a Christian. I also love that I have two awesome brothers who are hilarious, smart, caring, and strong role models (I might mention that they are VERY protective of me). I can’t even explain how much I am thankful for and love my family!

Well, you might be able to guess what’s next on the list. Friends! I never, EVER thought that I would find friends of equal or greater awesomeness than my friends in Arizona. My friends Lisa and Katherine were practically my entire after-school life! But after a couple months of adjusting to life here, I finally found really solid friends, who I can always trust to have my back. Friends who I can depend on to always have a laugh with. Friends where I’m SUPER disappointed if I don’t get to see them for just one day. And friends who I can just love being around. I found those kinds of friends both at church, on my soccer team, and at school, which is really amazing. At church, I can say that they are my family. I could say the same things I would say to my actual family and be able to grow closer to God through them. On my soccer team, we could all be sisters. We laugh together, share secrets with each other, and trust each other. At school, it’s the same exact thing.

Goodness, the list just goes on and ON! I am so very thankful for the amazingly beautiful and stunning place I live in. I mean, I can WALK to the ocean! And if I look behind me, I can see the vast, green blur of mountains all around surrounding me. I am thankful for every meal I eat. Not even close to everyone around the world gets to have even just one meal during the day. And I get three or four? I have lots of room to be thankful. I am thankful for a shelter where I can come home and feel safe. I’m thankful for a church where I, and many others can worship freely the God who created us, loves us, and has a continuous and growing relationship with us. I am thankful for the country that enables me to worship my God freely and where we, as a people can choose who we want to represent our country. I am thankful for a school where I can share my opinion and learn without having to worry about not having enough materials or not being sure if it’s safe or not.

I could continue, but I’m sure you get the point. I’ve got a TON to be thankful for. And I don’t only need to recognize these things on Thanksgiving. I think it’s super important to always be thinking of these things all of the time.

There should be a video of my Thanksgiving coming pretty soon, so stay tuned!

I hope you all have a very happy Thanksgiving where you can be very thankful, indeed!