Thankfulness
So I was just thinking back to this past Christmas break. It’s kind of unbelievable that it is already done and gone. It was kind of a hard and stressful break… it didn’t feel exactly like Christmas a lot of the time, and it was hard to be thankful for what God had blessed me with. I worked a lot over break - for Panera Bread, as well as writing for the blog. And it was just hard for a whole host of reasons…
But before I left to come back to Covenant to start the spring semester, my mom challenged me to sit down and make a list of the things I was thankful to God for, particularly over Christmas break. She told me that when she was first diagnosed with cancer some three and a half years ago… she regularly would sit down and make a list of the things that God had blessed her with. Instead of focusing on the discouraging things, the stressful things, or even something that was threatening her life and her family… she made a conscious decision to be thankful to God. My mom endured three long years of every kind of cancer treatment out there - from surgery, to chemotherapy, to radiotherapy, to other new treatments… it was and still is a long road.
But my mom never lost sight of the fact that God was indeed sovereign and in control. I’m not saying that she wasn’t discouraged, broken, or afraid. I know for a fact that she was… more than once, I listened to my mom cry herself to sleep across the hall from my room.
But my mom learned to live every single day in light of eternity. How often do we really lay down to sleep and wonder if tomorrow is going to be our last day? How often do we really think about dying or being forever separated from the ones you love most? My mom thought about it every day. She would and still tells me all the time that if there was one thing she could live to see … it would be to see all nine of her kids grow up loving and walking with Christ. My mom was told, some three and a half years ago, that she may only have another five years to live. Her cancer was aggressive and if they hadn’t caught it when they did, it could have spread to her bones or other vital organs. How often do I wake up to the reality that I may only have another day left to live? I can honestly say that I never truly think about that… and I could never fully comprehend what that must be like. But my mom knows… and so does my dad. My dad has lived with the reality that tomorrow might be the last day to spend with the person he loves more than anyone.
Through all of this, my mom remained thankful. Through three years of painful and weakening treatment, she remained thankful to God for what He had blessed her with - her family, her friends, the fact that the cancer was found in time to treat it, the fact that she was able to receive good treatment from doctors and nurses who genuinely cared for her…
I started writing it before, but I kind of got lost on another road… but my mom challenged me before I came back to Covenant to sit down and make a list of the things that I was thankful for. Despite the hardships or the frustrations, God bestowed countless blessings on me and my family this Christmas. It was the first Christmas I have had with 12 other people who I will soon be able to all call my immediate family.
Today, I want to be thankful for my family… some of the pictures on here are from this past Christmas break and the good times God gave me with them. God blessed me. And I don’t say that to be arrogant or proudful… simply to humbly offer thanksgiving to God, as well as encourage you to be thankful for what God blesses you with every new day.
Published on 11 Jan 2007 at 10:25 am.
5 Comments.
Filed under Thoughts.
Thank you for your blog on thankfulness. It made me really think and realize that I haven’t been thankful to God like I should lately. Right now it seems like I always want something more, because things aren’t going to great in my personal life. But honestly its not so bad and I’m just being selfish. I shouldn’t lose sight of all I really do have. Thank You again!
Jess on 11 Jan 2007 at 11:59 am.
good thoughts, buddy! thankfulness is a hard thing when you are walking through fire-being refined. But I can honestly say, that when you come out of the fire and are standing on the other side, you will look back and be thankful for all of the trials, hardships, and just rough times. It makes you into the person God desires for you. Be thankful. =)
Olivia on 11 Jan 2007 at 1:09 pm.
I have always been told to be thankful for what God has given me but I guess I’ve never understood it completely till now, now that I hear it from someone who is, in a way, like me. Thank you so much. Your page is something good that can help many people. I’m, like you, a person who has moved MANY times in her life (my dad was a missionary in different parts of Mexico and Texas, and know is a pastor in Dalton, GA for the PCA). I’ve had hard times with moving every 2-3 years but as you said we should be thankful.
Thanks You once more and God Bless.
Denise Ireta on 11 Jan 2007 at 8:38 pm.
Amen, Philip. Thanks, bro
Justin Scherrer on 14 Jan 2007 at 9:28 am.
i’m thankful to know there are students like yourself at covenant. i’m a mom of a new transfer student this spring, delighted that my son has decided to make a change in his life. we came up on sunday to meet his room mates, go to church with him and see what the atmosphere was like. what an awesome school. everyone in the dining hall was so friendly. it’s strange how you take the little things for granted, like friendliness. your mom’s string of thanks has prompted me to have a grateful heart for even the small things like this blog!
a mom on 15 Jan 2007 at 3:32 pm.