This has been one of the hardest weeks to be away. Thanksgiving is my favorite holiday because we often celebrate it as just our family with plenty of food, plenty of games, and plenty of times we are all falling off our chairs laughing. I love that no matter how far or how long we’ve all be apart, we can always laugh together.
This is my second year in a row celebrating Thanksgiving away from America. Away from home. I’m really not a fan of it to be honest. Being homesick makes it so much harder to be thankful.
I’ve been struggling to FEEL thankful this month. I wake up in the morning with emotions running through my head that have no cause to even be there so early in the day. It’s so easy to focus on everything that seems to be going wrong in my life, but then I end up in a terrible mood that affects everyone I’m around all day.
Instead, I’ve been commanding my soul to BE thankful in ALL circumstances. My feelings don’t always know what is best for me, and sometimes I have to harshly tell them to shut up because they are just straight up wrong. God is so so good to me and I have plenty of reasons to be thankful. Here’s a few:
1. I’m once again living in a part of the world that understands how important Milo is to drink every single day.
2. Chia seeds can be found all over the world.
3. Malaysia has waffles served with ice cream and taco food truck to help you celebrate Thanksgiving.
4. I have a family who supports my traveling but misses me just as much as I miss them.
5. There are people on my squad who agree adventures with no directions are more exciting.
6. I have Sarah to go eat spicy Indian food with when no one else will.
7. Ministry involves organizing all kinds of donated things this month and my heart is so happy.
8. God gives everyone passions and when people share them, it brings everyone joy.
9. My team appreciates my silliness and I appreciate them for it.
10. I’ve been blessed with good listeners and good storytellers in my wanderings.
11. God fills you with boldness to evangelize on the streets when you ask for it.
12. I was gifted a new journal with gold pineapples on it just when I filled my first journal.
13. Naomi and James still make plans for the future with me in mind.
14. I learned you shouldn’t stare monkeys in the eye on the beach even if you are trying to convince them not to eat toothpaste because they will probably charge you…
15. I have 7 more months to continue to learn how to live life in a totally different way!
There are a thousand more reasons I could add on, but I don’t want to keep you from enjoying your turkey any longer. It’s okay if you don’t feel entirely thankful, but don’t let that stop you from being thankful. Enjoy your green bean casserole and sweet potatoes with precious marshmallows on top for me. Happy Thanksgiving!
