(this is for those who don't subscribe to my new(er) blog...)
This time last year, I sat in a lobby of a hotel in New York City and watched a homeless man take off all his clothes, bathe himself, put on fresh clothes, and dispose of the old ones on a street corner.
I wish I could say that that image is long gone from my mind, but it's not. And I kind of pray that it never leaves.
This morning, I've been reading my facebook newsfeed. It seems that every person I'm friends with has posted some "Happy Thanksgiving" message of their own, most complete with what they're thankful for. This makes my heart so full.
But I can' t help but think about that man. Where is he this year? Is he getting a good meal? Where did he sleep last night? Does anyone miss him? Where is his family?
I can't help but think that the only thing separating him from me is a set of circumstances. This year, I've seen how quickly circumstances can snowball and life can change so quickly that you don't have time to catch your breathe, much less figure out what's going on.
So, this year, I'm thankful for THOUSANDS of things. I'm thankful for you. I'm thankful for God, and His mercy and love that I don't deserve... and yet, He pours out so generously, so new each day. I'm thankful for my crazy, loud, they-drive-me-crazy-sometimes, wonderful family. I'm thankful for my parents, all four of them. I'm thankful for my brother. I'm thankful for my step-sister and step-brothers, even though we are not close. I'm thankful for my friends who became my family. I'm thankful for my job, for food on the table, for clothes on my back, a warm place to sleep, an outlet for my emotions, and for freedom.
"I am thankful, that I'm incapable, of doing any good on my own" -- Caedmon's Call
"And give thanks for everything to God the Father in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ." Eph 5:20
xoxo,