Our Fantastic Family Of Four Forever Believes

"Other things may change us, but we start and end with family" Anthony Brandt

Sunday, November 23, 2008

THANKSGIVING SHOULD NOT BE ONE DAY OUT OF THE YEAR, BUT ALL YEAR LONG

Let me first day that I LOVE Thanksgiving! Besides, Halloween, It is my absolute favorite holidays of the year. I have been looking forward to Thursday. I so love the times I spend with my own family as well as my extended family. To have times with my grandparents, thank God they are still with us, and my mom and siblings. To have absolute well prepared meal set before us, holding hands around the table, each of us giving "thanks to God" for all things in our life. I have spent many hours preparing my Thanksgiving day menu, and looking at my family's recipes. I love cooking to begin with, but I LOVE cooking the old traditional meals, fried turkey, turkey and dressing and my famous pecan pies! I am also enjoying the extra time with the kids, for when the house is filled with laughing, the blaring tv, and the occasional, "They hit me first!" I am reminded how blessed am to have it all, even sometimes I wonder if things will calm down! I am also concerned with Jerry, if he will be home to share this wonderful time with us, for this is the most special time of the year to be with family, and to "give thanks" for all be have been blessed with. I have to admit, I have been a little on the edge because I want him home with us right now, to share the little outings me and the kids have. But, at the same time, he has a job to do, so we can have the little things that make us happy, but should I want those little "extra" things that we could live without?? Should I just say, Hey Jerry, I know you were soo happy with being a policeman, and it is your true calling, do what makes you happy!" We have had this discussion many times, and leaving it at We want what is best for the entire family. There are sacrifices made on each of our parts. He works several hours a day, away from our home, sleeping in uncomfortable hotel beds, eating lunch and dinner alone, and I feel so bad for him, because deep down, he just wants to be with our family. He loves to have me cook his favorite meals, for me to say, " is there anything I can do for you?" He longs to tuck our children into bed, and here them say"Goodnight daddy, I love you." And I want it too, and sometimes I have bitterness, for others who have their spouses home all the time, hey, I am not perfect, and I will never sugarcoat anything, for some can pretend that their little family has the greatest times ALL the time, but I know that is not true. But, after going to church today, my outlook on life had done a 180 degree turn. While I was going on with self pity, and soo realized that Thanksgiving is a everyday thing, that I should give God thanks EVERYDAY for all the blessings in my life. We should not say" I am so Thankful for this and that on the exact day of Thanksgiving." but it should be a everyday thing.For blessings happen to us everyday, not just on Thanksgiving. We should praise God for every situation that is place in our life, whether it be a good thing or a bad thing. It so easy to praise the Lord when things are going OUR way and everything is good, But when obstacles are placed in our life that don't always agree with us, we asked God "why me?"Then I am reminded of Paul, who was a great man of faith, who had many obstacles placed in his life. Having read the Word, and him saying that he had a thorn in his flesh. It was not "literally" a thorn but an affliction that kept trying to pull him down, that tried to question his faith. Paul did not have an easy life. He had been beaten, thrown in jail, and betrayed by his friends. But through it all, he gave glory to God, for everything, good and bad.He gave thanks to God for EVERYTHING.Why? I have been reading scriptures upon scriptures to understand his faithfulness to God.These verses really spoke to me.

"For I reckon, that the sufferings of this present time are not worthy to be compared with the glory which shall be revealed in us." Romans 8:18.
"But I would ye should understand, brethren, that the things which happen unto me have fallen out rather unto the furtherance of the gospel, So that my bonds in Christ are manifest in all the palace, and in all other places." Philippians 1:12, 13.
"And we know that all things work together for the good to them that love God, to them who are called according to His purpose." Romans 8:28
"What shall we then say to these things? If God be for us, who can be against us?" "He spared not His only Son, but delivered Him up for us all, how shall He not with him also freely give us all things?" Romans 8:31, 32.
So what does this all mean?That I should not dwell on the things that are happening right now, that I should put all my trust in the Lord, because in the end, it is all about glorifying Him and working to please Him, by giving thanks for all the things in my life. Even though things might not go my way, He places things in our life to bring us closer to Him, to be more Christlike. Paul knows this better than anyone, for He was under some trying times, but He realized the things that matter was that giving God ALL the glory would bring him to a understanding of appreciating the sacrifices that the Lord made for us. When we humble our self to the Lord, we come to an understanding that without Him, we would have no life, no hope, no reason to go on. And isn't it wonderful to know that even though we don't get all the answers to our questions in our time, but we have God that hears us, and loves us, and only wants the best for us. His ways are higher and above our ways, and ultimately, He knows what is best for us better than us. So, we should always thank Him for everything, good and bad everyday of our life.I believe that God place things in our life to teach us about the greatness of his power. He place things in our life sometimes that are not so great to help us take a bad situation and turn into something that will bring glory to Him, and for us to understand that good things can come out of bad situations.We should thank Him that we are able to breath, wake up in the morning and see the sun shine, that we have food and shelter, family. But most of all, we should thank him for being a Loving God,a forgiving God, and a provider. May we all this season start praising God for all the things in our life! Jerry may not be with us on the day of Thanksgiving physically, but spiritually, he is with us, just like our loving God! May God be with all families this Thanksgiving Day! And let us thank Him daily! Not just "one day out of the year." God Bless you all!