The past year has brought plenty of hard times with the economic down turn, health issues and other seemingly major issues that we all face. But there have been so many more things to be thankful for. Even the hardships bring blessings.
Two of my best blessings are my two nephews. Jake, at age 8, and Grayson, at age 2, bring me so much joy every day.
Jake and I often have religious discussions that he initiates. He recently asked me about God’s “voice” and how he would recognize it. Another time, during a musical show we attended, one of the performers mentioned being thankful for God. Jake leaned over and whispered to me, “That’s something everyone should applaud for.” He is wise beyond his years and often makes me think about serious issues. It’s a blessing to have him in my life.
As for Grayson, he is such a joy to us all with his huge smile that is contagious. You can’t help but laugh as he claps his hand in delight and dances around the room. The joy of a child is one thing that lifts your spirits and makes you happy. Grayson is a blessing to our family and we cherish him.
Our family is close and my parents, sister and brother-in-law are all blessings to me. A few weeks ago, my father had another heart attack. My mother, sister and brother-in-law and I gathered around his hospital bed as the doctor went over his test results. It’s wonderful to have a close-knit family who is always there for each other.
We have a huge poster in the hallway of our home that says “Thankful.” Jake and I made it recently and hung it up. We asked everyone in the family to write things they are thankful for. The things that have been written down so far include: Family, pets, food, a home, good health, God and Jesus. It was Jake who wrote God and Jesus on the list. I noticed a few days ago that he had added Santa Clause and Mrs. Clause to the list.
In addition to the important things such as family and health, I am also thankful for so many other things. Things like sweet tea, my mother’s chocolate pie, a warm blanket on a cold morning, a car that starts, visiting places I’ve never been before, good friends, a job to go to every day, enough money to get by, cats and dogs, books, trying new food and waking up every day to see what adventures are ahead.
This time of year, let's make more of an effort to count our blessings. Let’s start doing it year-round. We all have many blessings in our life to thank God for every day.
Angela Gary is editor of The Banks County News and associate editor of The Jackson Herald. She can be reached at AngieEditor@aol.com.
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