So, So Thankful

With Thankgiving coming up so soon, I thought I'd share some of my thoughts on thankfulness.

It's amazing how much we take granted the things God has blessed us with and how much we selfishly want more. Ever since my accident, an overwhelming feeling of gratitude has pervaded my life. God could have taken me out of this world; I think I was very close to it. I am thankful for each breath I have and for each morning I wake up to live another day (I may not be very thankful for the actual morning sometimes... still working on that). I go to an amazing school with professors who are sincerely concerned for your well-being. I love the education and the thorough study of the Bible I get to receive. Being thankful for God's Word, I have been learning so much about myself, life, and the God who gives everything to me.

I am also SO thankful for my family, friends, and churches. Before my accident, I think I failed to show how much I love my family. I have made it a personal goal to try to show my family how much I love them. My friends have been there for me so much this semester. They give me rides, put up with my emotional breakdowns, and encourage me all the time. I don't know what I'd do without the friends I have. Currently, I attend two churches, one while at school and the other while at home. Both have amazing congregations that I prefer to call family. I have sat under amazing teachings from God's Word that not only encourage me but challenge me in my walk with Christ.

I consider myself very much blessed.

So dear readers, what are you thankful for?

Content and Warm

On this cold fall day, I am thankful it isn't snowing (yet). It's not that I don't like snow; infact, I think snow is a beautiful aspect of God's creation. However, I am not a fan of slipping and falling. So I pray that if there is snow that comes, please let it not be icy. Being on a crutch has made my perspective change drastically about weather. I usually enjoy rain, but when I can't walk fast enough to get out of it and when it makes my hip ache like I'm fifty years older than I am, I am not quite a fan of it. So yes, I am a bit anxious about this winter. In about three weeks I'll be off the one crutch. Even then, my faith in my balancing skills is not 100%.

But God is faithful and will keep me from injury if He so choses.

For right now? I am sitting in a local coffee shop, eating a scone, drinking warm coffee, and listening to great music while blogging. For now, I'll be content and warm where I am, still thankful for no snow (yet).

Just another day on the ant hill.

Some Crutchy-ness

Just a fun Quote from the movie Newsies: Crutchy: Jack, when I walk, does it look like I'm fakin' it? Jack Kelly: Nah, Crutchy, who says ye'r fakin' it? Crutchy: I don't know... It's just there's so many fake crips on the streets today, a real crip ain't got a chance. I gotta find me a new sellin' spot where they ain't used to seein' me! For about the past two months I have been on crutches. For the first six weeks, I was on two crutches, and the last two I have been down to using only one. To you, my readers, I will confess something: I am not a patient person. Since my accident, I have been thankful for many things: being alive, God's mercy and grace, awesome friends and family who support me, people's prayers, etc. I have a hard time being thankful for my crutches. At first I often tripped over them while attempting to walk. I often drop them and struggle to pick them up. They get in the way and are quite bothersome for a small dorm room. Even worse: they constantly remind me how weak I am. Although I have made tremendous amounts of improvement, I still somewhat rely upon my crutch. You know what though? Even though I don't like using a crutch, I sometimes do need it when I am not as physically up to the task without it. Sometimes we treat God that way. We resent being so weak and in need of God's grace in order to get us through a certain situation or to have victory over our sin. We feel that we should be able to do things on our own when in reality, God is the one Who supplies us with the strength we need to get us through the day. We try to do things on our own but fall flat on our face. Now, I am not saying that God is a crutch. That would imply that someday, we wouldn't need God. We as fallible sinners will always need the Almighty God, the Creator and Sustainer of all things. It is my prayer that I don't resent the fact that I need God for everything in my life, but rather, welcome His wonderful grace and be thankful for His help for all of my needs. So for now, I'll keep gimping along despite my dislike for the metal crutch. I only have a few more weeks on it anyway (hopefully won't be prolonged). I will rejoice, and be glad in my circumstances and in the God Who holds me in His hand.

The Country that Captured My Heart

I miss the people I met

Whose lives were shared with mine.


The people whose smiles encouraged


and joys overflowed, sweet and divine.


Even though there is an ocean


In between Germany and I,


God gave me a love for them,


That can go farther than I can reach,


(Too bad I can't fly).


I cherish the fast-made friendships,


And even though we are far apart,


The bond we have in Christ


Keep my new friends close in my heart.