I read a quote a few weeks ago that struck home ….”What if we woke up today only with the things we thanked God for yesterday?”
Okay, I know I thanked God that I didn’t hit that deer that crossed my path on County Road 2. I am pretty sure I thanked God I got the kids to school on time and I most definitely thanked God that it hadn’t snowed as of mid-November.
Did I thank God for my husband, kids, family, friends, home and food? Yikes, skipped them and I would really be in a pickle if I woke up tomorrow without any of those in my life. I really do need to be more thankful and not just to God but also to those who mean the most to me. So here goes:
Yes, I am thankful for my husband. He puts up with every dip, curve and turn I send into his life with good humor and a strong sense of trust. Lately these ideas have been the decision to go to Africa on a mission trip for 19 days in 2012 and to add a singing canary to our menagerie. I know he’s not thrilled about either one but he supports the first and tunes out the second. I am thankful for his compromising nature.
My children are a wonderful mix of both Mike and me so on some days they are conservative and logical, other days they are creative and daring (I will not tell you which qualities are mine and which are Mike’s, that is for you to decide), but I am thankful for each child and each and every day I have with Zoe, Jack and Ben. They bring me joy beyond my expectations.
My parents are two people in this world I owe a huge depth of thanks. Without them I would not be me, I would not be here and I probably would not be happy. They taught me to pull myself up and push forward no matter what the odds but they also taught me to value family.
I recently heard a woman speak from a shelter for pregnant teens and women with no family support. Some of these girls were living in their cars before they came to the shelter. Can you imagine? No families whatsoever. I honestly have never lived one day in my life without the knowledge that my mom and dad would be there for me, any time, any place. I am thankful I have never felt the pain of no one to care for me.
I have been so blessed to be surrounded by the most wonderful friends. Far too many to name and thank individually here. I have friends from kindergarten, high school, my hometown, college, first job and career. Friends from neighborhoods in which I have lived and from the community in which I live now. Friends from church, the coffee shop, the schools, book club, yoga, Fare for All, Improvement Club and Meals on Wheels. Friends from the grocery store, the pharmacy, the post office and all my local favorite shops. Some friends I have known as long as I can remember and some friends I maybe met just yesterday.
I cannot imagine a day in which I have not been blessed by a smile, a joke and a phone call or e-mail from someone I would consider a friend. Yes I know I am lucky and for that I thank God.
Be thankful for what you have; you’ll end up having more. If you concentrate on what you don’t have, you will never, ever have enough.
Oprah Winfrey
Taste of Home columnist Sandy (Anderson) Holthaus lives on a farm in South Haven, MN with her husband, Michael, and their children Zoe, Jack and Ben. Her heart remains on the North Shore where she grew up with her parents, Art and LaVonne Anderson of Schroeder. She enjoys writing about her childhood and mixes memories with delicious helpings of home-style recipes.
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