Thoughts…

Lately I’ve been thinking about how blessed we really are. I see so many things around us that seem to send me daily reminders of all we have to be thankful for. The earthquake and tsunami causing such destruction in Japan, the increasing number of friends we have who are struggling to attain what they desire most (a family), the people who are faced with saying goodbye to their loved ones, the list could go on and on. What probably strikes me the deepest is the faith of each of those people. Despite all the ups and downs, the tragedy, the lose, the difficulties that they have each faced, their faith appears so strong. It is truly amazing to see the Lord’s hand in all of our lives.

Each day as I spend most of my time at home with my kids its easy for me to get caught up in the day to day activities and lose perspective on what is really important and how truly blessed we are. It seems so easy to focus on the negative right in front of our face day to day, but instead I’ve decided to do whatever I can to try and focus on the positives.

When my toddler decides to throw a tantrum I will focus on the privilege that I have to be home with her each day.

When my 5 month old doesn’t want to be put down and only wants to be held, I will remember that there are many women out there who would love to be holding a baby of their own.

When I’m sad or disappointed or jealous of others because my father isn’t here to see my children grow up and experience new things, or to talk to me when I need a wise ear, or give me advice, I will remember the 24 amazing years I had with the most loving, compassionate, understanding and God-fearing father and realize that I’m a better person for the time I was able to have him in my life.

When I’m feeling discontented with my home, I will choose to be thankful we have a nice, safe roof over our heads to shelter us from the cold, the rain, and the wind.

When my husband doesn’t do something exactly to my specifications I will remember that I am blessed to have a husband to be my partner in this life, and that he is an amazing man who helps me in more ways than I could possibly describe.

As I watched the destruction in Japan on the news I couldn’t help be stare at the entire villages, towns, and cities that were swept out to sea. The last count I saw stated that there were over 10,000 dead and 17,000 still missing…imagine 27,000 people gone in an instant. Do you think any of them were ready to meet their maker? The last sermon my father delivered was titled “Watch Therefore” and was the story of the ten virgins. His message was clear and simple, we must always be ready and waiting for we do not know the day and hour. I can not help but wonder how many of those people were truly ready and waiting to meet their Lord and Savior on that day? Would  I have been? Will I be now?

As I look at my life I realize I have been so ungrateful for all the Lord has blessed us with for so long. Especially the last few years that I have spent so much time dwelling on the past, wishing for the way things were, and feeling almost angry that my life had been so “perfect” and that I can never have that back. I’ve always been a planner, a person who is constantly forming a new plan for her life. Yet I’ve come to realize that all our plans are futile if they are not His plan.

I am so grateful for the amazing and loving partner and friend I have in my husband. I am so blessed to have him for the rest of our lives.

We have been blessed with two amazing children, who despite their natural sinful tendencies, are all we could have ever asked for.

I can’t promise that the next time (if the Lord chooses to bless us in that way) I am pregnant I won’t find myself complaining from time to time as I’m unable to retain anything for the first 3-4 months and unable to move/sleep/etc for the last 3 months, but I can promise I will do my best to treasure every blessed day instead of dwelling on the negatives.