Giving Thanks

I try to make sure that every day is like a mini-Thanksgiving in my life. I make a conscious effort to be truly grateful for the blessings that God has chosen to bestow upon me, and to let Him know about it. Even if, in my end-of-the-day exhaustion, I only make it 30 seconds into my nightly prayer, I always start with the 'thank you for...' part (though lately, I'll admit, I sometimes start with 'Please please please let him stay asleep!'). I try to remember to give thanks throughout the day as I find myself appreciating something, whether it be a beautiful day outside, pretty scenery on a long drive, or the weight of my baby boy asleep on my chest.

The bottom line is, even in the worst of circumstances, we always have something to be thankful for each and every second of the day - the breath in our lungs and the beating of our hearts. Our lives here on Earth. I know in my logical mind that Heaven is our true home and that it will make this life look like pretty small potatoes in comparison, but it's still an unknown. I can't imagine anything feeling better than the best moments I've had here on Earth, because God's design for this life really wasn't too shabby and it's all I know. Sure, terrible things happen down here. But the tragedies make the sweet moments all the sweeter. They give us true perspective and allow us to better appreciate even the smallest of blessings, which in turn makes our lives so much richer. So while I know that the best is yet to come, I'm so thankful for this experience that God has chosen to give us - the experience of an Earthly life. And so every breath and every beat is a blessing in my eyes, even though I know that what awaits me at the end of that road is going to be indescribably wonderful. I'm thankful to have experienced the love of family and my true love's kiss and my baby's coos and giggles in his sleep and all the sunny Fall days and the smell of fresh cut grass... all these uniquely human experiences that we only get to enjoy in our brief time here on Earth.

I haven't had much personal tragedy in my life, and perhaps that would change my feelings on just how wonderful (or not so wonderful) I perceive this life to be. But for now, I'm drinking it all in with the biggest gulps I can manage, and with a very thankful heart. As my baby boy snoozes here on my chest and my husband sleeps peacefully next to me in our cozy bed, I know that love alone is worth all the tough stuff that life sometimes throws our way. The experience of love is enough to make me stop and count my blessings, today and every day.

Happy Thanksgiving!