Thankful

Gratefulness seems to be a lost art. Checkers at the grocery store are astounded by a "Thank you" from customers. The bank teller was floored by my "Thanks for your help today." It seems that we have forgotten the power of being thankful. So today, in tune with the season, I want to be appreciative to the One who has created my life.

I'm thankful for my sweet husband of nine and half years. I'm thankful for our ability to laugh and work together. I'm thankful that we love spending time together. I'm thankful for our partnership in raising our kids.

I'm thankful for all three of my beautiful kids. I'm thankful for their health and vitality, even when its overwhelming. I'm thankful for all the ways they remind me of someone and for all the ways they are unique. I'm thankful their little hearts that already love God.

I'm thankful for my job. I'm thankful that I can help support our family financially while still being a full time mom. I'm thankful for the opportunity to serve and be creatively challenged by what I do professionally.

I'm thankful for our extended family. I'm thankful that they live close enough to see them regularly. I'm thankful for traditions that we share in each holiday season and for new things we do to explore the meaning of Christmas.

I'm thankful for our church. I'm thankful for the way she challenges me to live in community with those that are different. I'm thankful for a place to serve. I'm thankful for a group of people who are concerned with the spiritual health of my family.

I'm thankful for friends. I'm thankful for times to laugh together, shop together, read together. I'm thankful for the chance to be authentic and safe. I'm thankful for similarities and differences to make life richer.

I'm thankful for our home. I'm thankful for a place that is ours. I'm thankful for the lights of Christmas that surround me now. I'm thankful for the memories in every corner of this house.

I'm thankful for the journey called life. I'm thankful for the chance to grow and be changed more into the image of Jesus. I'm thankful for the ups and downs that remind me of where my true home is. I'm thankful for each passing day.

What are you thankful for?

The Gift of a Godly Woman?

I am currently writing an article by this same title. It is built around these four questions:

1. Are men superior to women?
2. Does Eve's curse still hold true for women?
3. What about the writings of Paul?
4. What should the church of today do with all of this?

I would love your feedback on any of these questions!

7:45pm

7:45pm is my favorite time of the day. The whole family is upstairs working toward children going to bed. Yes, it's a good thing that they are going to bed! However, that's not why it's my favorite time.

At 7:45, my baby boy is fresh from a bath. We are sitting in his rocking chair in a darkened room. I smell the lavender shampoo in his hair and feel his lotion softened skin. It is the only moment of the day that he is still in my lap. Together we begin to rock and put an end to a busy day.

These brief moments of almost every evening are priceless to me. As he drinks a cup full of milk, I sing. I sing lullabies in the beginning. Very often, his sisters come in wanting to help sing. And so together we sing "Jesus loves Me" and "Jesus Loves the Little Children" and "Twinkle, Twinkle Little Star" and close with "God Made the Big Round Sun". The girls kiss baby brother goodnight and head to brush their teeth. The milk is gone by now and he snuggles closer, laying his head on my shoulder.

I used to stop singing at this point and just rock. But lately, little man has started singing if I don't. So, the concert goes on. I sing whatever God brings to mind. Last night it was songs from church that morning. Often, I sing songs from my days in youth group and at camp; songs that soothe a harried soul with reminders of quieter times. I always end with "Be Still and Know That I am God". I used to sing this song to myself to help me sleep. Now, I whisper these words over my little boy.

Before I lay him down in his bed, I sing a prayer over him. It is his life prayer that God gave me when he was just four months old. All the way to the door I blow kisses to that precious lump of blankets and stuffed animals.

These moments of my day are centering. I have a moment when my only job is to administer grace. And in the process, I receive it as well.

Dying

I've been thinking a lot about dying. My grandfather passed away on Thursday and we held a graveside service yesterday. Grandpa was 86 and very ready to die. He had been in poor health for years. A week before his death, he decided that was enough of hospitals and doctors. So, he was discharged from the hospital and entered into hospice care. Six days later, after seeing each of his sons, he died peacefully with his wife of 59 years by his side.

Modern medicine has taken some of the dignity out of dying. Grandpa had undergone three by-pass surgeries. They gave him more years to be sure. But the last 2 years of his life were humiliating in many ways. I wonder if there is something to be said for living fewer years with all of our pride in place? Grandpa was a humble man from the beginning. I can't imagine that pride was a strong motivator for him in any area of life. However, he was embarrassed in his last years by his inability to do even the most mundane things for himself.

LIFE. Death is a part of it. But, living should be the most of it! Life should be a plate full of rich food. Sweet and bitter, each relationship and moment brings more fullness to the flavor of another.

I don't really have a point today. I'm just meandering in thought on the questions and fears that plague all of humanity. What about you?