What are you thankful for?

Happy Thanksgiving to you all

This is that day set aside for us to remember those things that bless us. What are we thankful for? The list, especially for us Americans, is very vast. Could take you all the way from the dinner prayer to the after dinner pie to get through the entire list but today I will share one very general thing that I am thankful for: The Hard Places.

The Hard Places sometimes pile up and compound in our day to day lives. They tower like statues reminding us that "Damn, this is tough". As I recollect over my life's experiences I realize that the hard places are what have formed and developed the me that is me today. These Hard Places, my hard places, stand like an alter to remind me that I have passed this way before and unless I make course changes this will be the outcome. These Hard Places, my hard places, remind me of who I was and where I was going and what I have learned along the way.

When I think of my hard places I realize that mine will tower far above some and be ever so small compared to others. Then, I remember Jesus, my Lord and Saviour. Now there are some real Hard Places and he didn't even have to face them. He, being perfect, did not need Hard Places to form character, or divert stupidity, or slow down an out of control life. No, Jesus did not need the Hard Places, but he willingly went into them so that when I NEED my hard places he has already been there and is waiting to help me through.

I like who I am and who I am becoming therefore I must be thankful for the Hard Places, my hard places.

Have a very Blessed Thanksgiving. God bless you each richly today with everything you would want except the heartburn.