Thursday was Thanksgiving Day here in the States. Like other days of thanks around the world it is a time to gather with family and friends and eat and drink ourselves into a happy stupor. This we did! It is also a day to remember the gifts in our lives for which we are thankful. This year our 8 year old Malia and the daughter of some good friends drew a banner with the many things they are thankful for. The banner was covered with cute, happy animals and written prominently in the middle were the words "Abandon Peace, Abandon Mercy." Really? These were not the sentiments I had expected. So, I asked my daughter how she picked them. She said, very proudly, "This was the song we sang this morning at church." It took me a few moments of thought before I realized the song that she was referring to was "Abundant Peace, Abundant Mercy." "Yes," she said "that one." I suppose the choir will have to work on our clear pronunciation.
After the friends were off to their homes and the dishes were put away, I started thinking about what I was thankful for this year. Of course there are the obvious: family who are so supportive, friends who surprise me with their care and health which has stayed strong. But, since starting this blog I've begun thinking about those things we truly take for granted, the ones that we don't realize we have until we really need them.
So, this year I am thankful for courage to face the unknown, hope in my darkest hour and faith that with one foot in front of the other I will get to the other side.
