Thankful Thursday

OK, I'll play Thankful Thursday.

I'm first and foremost thankful for my wonderful family. My husband is kind and generous, and he puts up with an awful lot of garbage from me. I never doubt that he is faithful and true, nor that he does anything short of worship the ground I walk on. He supports me in all my endeavors, both dumb and not-so-dumb. I am always careful to watch my tongue when we disagree, as words can never be recovered. The last thing I want to do is hurt him with angry words.

My daughter is a delight. She's sweet and compassionate, not at all into the pop culture. It's a joy to have her occupy my days. One of my friends described her as an "old soul." I think that's exactly right. She's mature beyond her years, but still has her 16-year-old girlish charm.

I am thankful for my son, who, despite some genetic malfunctions inherited from my first husband, is a good kid who tries hard. He is a good father and husband (as far as anyone will tell me). He puts up with a lot from me. I am a critical mother, always pushing him to reach his potential, and I think he feels like he can never live up to my expectations. Still, he's always happy to see me and doesn't seem to hold it against me.

I am thankful for the roof over my head, the ability to make a house payment, and the mortgage free acreage we live on. Worst case: we'll always have a barn to sleep in.

I have a mother-in-law who is a jewel. If she's ever thought an unkind thought about anyone, I've never heard her voice it. How I could learn from her!

I am thankful for my friends. They are few, but they are my friends. Some I've known since my children were small. Some I've only met recently. Some I've never met at all, but talk to them through the computer. No, I don't lean up to the screen and talk to it. But I wonder if that would work... Can you hear me now?

I have a job that allows me great flexibility so I can put family needs first. Hubby picks up the slack at work when I fall short. I know it's a burden on him when he does that. I am forever indebted to him.

I'm thankful that I live in a country and a state that allows me the freedom to protect my family when necessary. While I fear the next administration could very well try to remove that freedom, I am thankful for powerful lobbying groups who will help keep that from happening.

I'm thankful that I can worship God without being in fear for my life, that I can still openly say I'm a Christian.

I'm thankful for the men and women who are putting their lives in harm's way to protect me, my family, my friends, and this country from those who hate us and would like to see us destroyed. I am thankful for those who paved the way for the free life I live today. Our freedom wasn't free. It was bought by the blood of men and women who believed in this country and for what it represents.

And that, my friends, is just the tip of the iceberg. My mother told me one time that she felt sorry for me because I've had a tough time of it. In all the ups & downs I've experienced in my fifty years, I've never considered myself to be a hardship case; I've always though I was richly blessed.