I feel I'm light-years away from the life I was leading just 90 days ago. In just a short amount of time I have melded back into the American lifestyle: My google calandar is chalk-full of meeting, dates, and appointments, I mutter unkind words under my breath when the car in front of me is too slow, and I may or may not have succumbed to retail-therapy a time or two to soothe the occasional anxiety or sadness.
Too soon I've begun skipping morning time in the Word and journaling my prayers. And I already feel the effects of the distance that is stretching between myself and my Father.
My life is full of blessings, though. I have an incredible fiance who loves me and cares for me deeply. I have a precious, supportive family who are so, so generous. I have the most amazing friends who have encouraged me and challenged me and spoken truth into me in this tough time of transition. But I too quickly have forgotten to thank the Giver of these wonderful blessings.
One year ago, I was ending my month in Tegucigalpa, Honduras. I had spent a few weeks teaching English to the most adorable (and loco) group of 11 and 12 year olds. The Lord began to reveal to me my passion for teaching. I loved standing up in front of them to teach them the English words for ropa (clothing), partes del cuerpo (parts of the body), and Jesu Cristo.
I found a little brother in Ariel, who brightened my mood just by throwing his arm over my shoulder. I offered him my hooded sweatshirt, because he didn't own one, and the Honduran nights were pretty darn chilly in his one room house with no heat.
My heart broke for Stefen and Carlitos, whose mom was constantly in and out of the hospital with severe stomach ailments and possible cancer. Because she was so sick, she could not work and provide food for her children or pay for their school fees.
One year ago, I celebrated Thanksgiving with 55 of the most amazing people I know, complete with mac & cheese, pumpkin pie, and stuffing (Yes! We found them in Honduras!). At the time, I was less than grateful for these abundant blessings... All I wanted was to be at home with my family on my favorite holiday of the year. I had to learn the lesson of giving thanks in all circumstances, and it was incredibly tough.
This year I got to celebrate two Thanksgivings--one with my in-laws-to-be, and one with my own family. Two Thanksgivings?? How could I not be grateful? But I wasn't. I skimmed past the "30 Days of Thankfulness" statuses everyone was posting on Facebook and didn't care to think of my own (numerous)blessings I should have been thankful for.
Hello, reality check. I may be a little late on the Thankfulness Train... but God calls us to have hearts of thanksgiving all of the time, everyday, every minute. Even when our circumstances or moods push us to do otherwise.
"Let the peace of Christ rule in your hearts, to which indeed you were called in one body. And be thankful. Let the word of Christ dwell in you richly, teaching and admonishing one another in all wisdom, singing psalms and hymns and spiritual songs, with thankfulness in your hearts to God. And whatever you do, in word or deed, do everything in the name of the Lord Jessus, giving thanks to God the Father through him." - Colossians 3:15-17
Do you get it yet, Sydney? Give thanks already!!
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