Giving Thanks

There were times in my life when I wasn’t sure I really had much to be thankful for. I felt so empty and alone that I just didn’t see how I could be grateful for that. Over the past couple of years I have learned that while I may feel alone that I am not. I may no longer really be part of any one particular family anymore, I am still Amy.

I am grateful that my mother raised me to be outspoken and free-thinking and willful. Some people think she didn’t do that, but she told me one day in a very long and poignant conversation that she did that because she wanted me to speak out and be heard when I wanted or needed to be. She didn’t want me to feel stifled like she had in her life. So I am very grateful for a Mama who loved me enough to raise a wild-ass daughter, even when it backfired at times. (I know it seems like I am leaving my father out, but I am thankful for him and I do love and miss him. He just didn’t appreciate this particular aspect of me like Mama did.)

I have a few people who are in my life that are in that inner realm and I am grateful for them. I thank them for being a  part of my life. They didn’t duck and run when times weren’t easy. They stood fast and strong and waited for the storms of life to end so that the healing of time could begin. I am thankful. I have a love for these people that is beyond measure. It is rare to find these kinds of people to stand with you like this. Many people will run as soon as there is a moment of discomfort. I found that out the hard way with family and friends. Not all of them, but some. Some I never imagined and some I knew would do so. It hurt. That is why my love for the ones left is so much more powerful.

I am also very thankful for my country. I love the United States. It may not be perfect, but it is home and it is wonderful! I am free to say and think my dreams. Not everyone in this world has that privilege and that is so sad.

I am thankful for my dear cats who love me unconditionally. They make me smile and laugh at times when I don’t want to or don’t think it is possible. Soleil with her sweet, gentle heart. Chloe with her catch-me-if-you-can attitude. Such a difference in personalities and yet we are all a happy little family together. They both just love.

I am thankful for a job. Yes, it drives me crazy often, but it also provides enough money to live meagerly. I have days when I want to scream and tear out other people’s hair, but I think about how many people would like a job and it stops me. I have a job that I rock at. I have made some good friends over those phone lines. I am grateful for that paycheck.

I am even grateful for past relationships. They have shown me what I shouldn’t do and what I should look for. They have opened my eyes to my own flaws and have helped me overcome some of them and have helped me realize that I am stronger than I ever believed possible.

I am thankful for God for believing in me when I didn’t believe in myself. Having lost my family young, I lost that cheering section that most people have. Most of us have a crowd of people telling us we can do things and to just go for it. When you feel lost and alone, it is hard to do that. But thankfully God has more faith in me than I have in myself and He cheers me on and tells me I can do things. I may not have a massive cheering section, but I have a great one!

I am thankful for anyone reading this. It means a lot that anyone has taken the time to read my heart, mind, and sometimes soul. Thank you.

Related articles

• Thanksgiving Day: The one blessing we overlook (mattforrest.wordpress.com)
• I Am Thankful For… (gnozzoknows.com)
• Yes! It’s a Thankful at Thanksgiving Time Post! (ginalondon.wordpress.com)
• Thankful or Blessed? (3tips4god.wordpress.com)
• A Thankful Thanksgiving (tominvestor.wordpress.com)
• Thankful Thoughts (bodychange.net)
• Gratitude and Caring (awakenedlives.com)
• Giving of Thanks (rashelbell.wordpress.com)

Who Never Gives Up Republished

I was thinking about God today. He has been so loving and faithful to me. I wish I could say the same all the time about myself towards Him. I’m not perfect and I will never pretend to be. I’m not even sure I want to be. But I would like to do better than I do now.

I got to thinking about people I care about and how God has worked in their lives. For some of them it took a long time for them to let Him. What made me think of this? A Joyce Meyer message I saw: God will never give up on you. Never forget that. (1 Corinthians 1:9). It’s so true. Others may give up on us, but He won’t. We may give up on ourselves, but He won’t. He believes we are better than we have behaved because He created us.

All of this touched my heart in a poignant way. I think of some people I know who ran so hard away from God, but when they finally realized that they should be running towards Him instead of away, their whole outlook on life changed. Today I will pray for those still running. I ran for years and know what a difference it makes to change directions.

Happy Birthday, Jesus!

Simple. Sweet. I don’t know what else to say except I am so glad for the birth of Jesus and all it did and represented.

I hope if anyone reading this is traveling that you have safe travels. I hope that if anyone reading this is experiencing pain in their lives that your burdens be lightened. I hope that anyone reading this knows the true reason for CHRISTmas…the celebration of the birth of Jesus Christ.

Happy birthday, Jesus!

Who Never Gives Up?

I was thinking about God today. He has been so loving and faithful to me. I wish I could say the same all the time about myself towards Him. I’m not perfect and I will never pretend to be. I’m not even sure I want to be. But I would like to do better than I do now.

I got to thinking about people I care about and how God has worked in their lives. For some of them it took a long time for them to let Him. What made me think of this? A Joyce Meyer message I saw: God will never give up on you. Never forget that. (1 Corinthians 1:9). It’s so true. Others may give up on us, but He won’t. We may give up on ourselves, but He won’t. He believes we are better than we have behaved because He created us.

All of this touched my heart in a poignant way. I think of some people I know who ran so hard away from God, but when they finally realized that they should be running towards Him instead of away, their whole outlook on life changed. Today I will pray for those still running. I ran for years and know what a difference it makes to change directions.

Some “Christians” Make Me Cringe

I have been reading a lot of things online lately. A lot has been from “Christians.” Some of these people I know and some I don’t. But what bothers me is their tone and hatefulness at times. Some of these people are provoking people in a negative way. It’s one thing to try to discuss something but when you are calling people names and talking about how stupid they are for their beliefs, I don’t find that to be too Christian of way of dealing with people.

For me Christianity means that it is the following of Christ. I believe Jesus is Christ. I look through the Bible and I never read anything of Jesus acting this way. The biggest reaction I ever read about was him flipping the money changers tables in the temple. Most of the time he was saying to quit judging and to not treat people badly. He actually hung out with the sinners and talked to them on a level they understood. This didn’t mean he agreed with their lives; it just meant that he cared enough to show them he cared.

I think maybe some of these “Christians” I have been reading and/or know should really re-read some of Jesus’s lessons. He was pretty smart and loving and kind. His people skills were awesome. There was that whole WWJD movement a few years back. Maybe some people should think like that because I really don’t think Jesus would be calling names or telling people how stupid they are. I could be wrong, but I really don’t think so.

I don’t want everyone thinking that all Christians are that way. They’re not. Not all Christians are so condemning. Some of us realize we are saved by grace and that we have to learn to live with others and we can’t make people conform to our every belief. Some of us are willing to listen to why you feel the way you feel even if we don’t feel the same way.