I
have quite a lot to be thankful for on this Thanksgiving Day. After
pounding tons of food, feeling like my belly might be full like “twins,”
I sat downstairs, just talking with the women of the house about family
and God and literally, just our lives. Where we’ve been, where we’ve
come, everything in between. We shared testimonies and things the Lord
had done for us. Wow. Hah. How awesome it is to think of everything:
every battle, every victory, every situation and trial… and how I am
still alive, a smile on my face, Joy in my heart, eyes on Jesus.
I
went to Dallas this Thanksgiving, a little different than the norm. I
was given the honor of staying with a family over the ORU Thanksgiving
Break. HOW AWESOME IT FELT, to be with a family.
I haven’t been
home for Thanksgiving in 5 years. I wish I could be. My family means the
world to me and I am forever thankful for them.
Tonight, I sat
and listened to a woman share about the death of her son, nearly two
years ago. I listened to a woman talk about the prayers that had gone
out, and had been faithfully answered by God. I sat remembering what
life was like before giving my life to Jesus, what it felt like to live
without Truth inside of me. I shared about the second chance God gave
me, redeeming my life and giving me a life I never thought possible but
only heard about.
God ordains my feet. He knew I was supposed to
be in Dallas this weekend, He knew I was supposed to be at ORU as a
freshman 5 years ago, He knew that I needed him, He knew I had a reason
to be alive.
I have SO much to be thankful for.
I am
thankful for my Jesus, my Savior. He redeemed my life, unlocked my
self-created cage of torment, sin, deceit and manipulation, giving me a
hope of earthly and eternal life! His love is all that I need and HE is
the ONLY thing that I found that has set me free from it all!
I
am thankful for my family. They have brought me joy, and laughter, and
at other times have frustrated me, teaching me to love unconditionally,
to love despite, and to look to Jesus. They are my support, my
encouragers, my dreams-supporters, and they believe in everything I put
my hand to. They love me so much, they tell me, and they don’t even need
to, I already know. They are my prayer warriors, they too have come to
know Jesus. They break for the things of God and are determined. They
are the guards of our families heart, it beats for love and unity,
though it wouldnt always look like it. They are lovers and cuddlers,
they love attention and love to give it.
I am thankful for my
friends. For their honesty, their faithfulness, their ability to love me
while I walk through processes and trials, they make me laugh, they
challenge me to walk with high standards and never look away from God
and his plans for our lives. They sharpen as iron, refining, shaping,
influencing, and the ones that will pray for me regardless of the time
or hour. They tell me when I don’t listen or need to listen better. They
know when to talk and when not to. They ask me for help when they need
it, or I ask them when I do. They listen, they pray, and they point me
to the Lord. They know they are only human, but are confident that God
is God.
I am SO thankful for My life and everything in it. I have
traveled the World, done exciting things. I own a car, I have gifts and
abilities, some even call me a jack of all trades. I can sing (I think
and hope), and can play instruments, I am a problem solver, I can
snowboard, skateboard, play sports, and read. I am great with people,
thats what Im told, and I have to agree… i love people. I can
communicate (some times better than other times). I can write my full
name on a piece of paper, my mind thinks clearly most of the time, the
best when I am alert. I can speak and I can walk, even run when I feel
like it. I have no limits, and when I exceed them, that is when I will
meet my Jesus in Heaven. Ha. I can take risks and have the ability to
feel emotions and the effects of them on me. I know what goes into
loving someone, and know what its like to be broken and damaged as a
result. I am a lover and a forgiver, and I will fight through anything. I
want to be one that gives life. I have reasons to smile, but even when I
don’t feel like I have them, I still smile. I am even thankful for the
name given to me. Maggie, it means Pearl. A pearl is the rarest of all
the precious stones because it is the only one that is created from
something living. I didn’t realize or learn this until just a few months
ago actually, and it is a reminder of my value and the thoughts of God
towards me. I always have wanted to be someone that is life-giving,
speaking life and encouragement, brightening someone’s day. Without them
knowing my heart, people have told me that I radiate Christ, something I
once dreamed of during a time when I was once lifeless, joyless,
hopeless and trapped. Dreams do come true, thanks to the lover of my
soul.
I pray that my life is a life of thanksgiving. That praise
to God would continually be on my lips. That in all things I thank the
Lord for what he has done. I will praise and thank Him in the Good times
and the Bad, because he is the one who loved me enough and brought me
into this awesome life. I want to live a life of love. With God inside
of me, I will have no problem doing this, because he is my continual
help. He shows me how to love Him, love myself, and love those around
me. He is my ability and confidence to love people, even the ones I meet
on the streets of India or Spain, or even the Wal-Mart across the
street. He has taught me Truth, and the ways of life. Which way to walk
and where not to. It’s up to me, to make the choice.
I am forever thankful for this life I have been given. My life will never be the same because of Christ. My life is not my own ☺
+ COMMENTS
add a comment