Each November, growing up, my mom would cut a big brown tree out of butcher paper and tape it on the laundry room door. Then each night as we ate around the dinner table we would pick out a colored leaf and write something that we were thankful for on it. My typical answers were family, food, the dog… you get the picture. This tradition is one that I love and it always makes me think more about the things that I’m thankful for.
However, this thanksgiving I’ve gained a whole new perspective in the things that I am thankful for. As I made a list this year, the things it includes are a little different.
Here it goes:
– sore muscles – My team has been biking 7 miles each day this month, going to and from ministry. At first when my legs were super sore and it was easy to begin complaining. But the Lord quickly changed my perspective to be grateful for the legs and muscles that I do have, allowing me to get place to place.
– fans – Without AC its hot… sitting underneath a fan is the biggest blessing when you get home or even when you sit down to eat at a restaurant.
– ice cream – I’ve eaten more ice cream since I left America than I ever did while at home. But hey, its one of the only cold foods you can find and its so so good.
– adventurous friends – I’m so thankful for friends that get attacked by monkeys and climb up weird structures at water parks to jump off of.
– crying – One of the biggest things I’ve had to learn and am still teaching myself is that tears are OKAY! They are red flags, a warning sign, our bodies way of letting us know that there’s something going on inside that we need to process through. I’m thankful for tears.
– sunrise and sunset – It will never be the same and that blows my mind every single day.
– hammock – This month I’ve made it a habit to get up at 5:30 and spend time with the Lord each morning. I wake up, get dressed and go sit in my hammock watching the sunrise, until it’s time for breakfast at 6:30.
– wifi – Keeping up with people at home can be difficult. But I’m so thankful for wifi and the ability to talk to friends and family at home.
– prayers from people at home and those around me – I am thankful that when I am struggling with something, I can always ask for prayer. It helps me to remember that I’m not alone.
– headphones – Living in community, headphones are a blessing to try and get away for a little bit and remove yourself from the chaos.
– worship music – It’s so calming and always points me back to the truths of the Lord.
– friends who love me well – Before I left I felt so loved by my friends in Waco and family friends at home. Thank you all for consistently being there for me when I need someone.
– freedom to choose – The Lord gives us the freedom to choose what we want to do in every circumstance and I am beyond thankful for it. He doesn’t force us into anything, but rather guides us in love.
– laundry lady – At home, I HATE doing laundry. I’ll do the dishes or sweep the floor but laundry is one of my least favorite tasks. Here, there is a laundry lady around the corner who I can take my clothes to, get them washed, and pick them up the next day, for around $3. W H A T A D E A L.
– rain! – With the temperature in the 90’s and up, day and night, rain is the biggest blessing. It drops the temperature and around here we like to call it God’s AC.
– my pillow – Sleeping on the ground honestly isn’t too bad. My sleeping pad is comfortable and the floor is cold so its nice to lay on. However, bringing my pillow was one of the greatest packing choices I made. I’m so so thankful for it.
So, as you can see, the things that I’m thankful for and have been on my mind this November are a little different from the things I would be thankful for at home. Life isn’t always glorious and I am for sure sweating nearly 98% of the time, but I’ve learned to be grateful for so much more than I could have imagined. I’m so thankful for my time here and the ways that the Lord is teaching me through it. I’m so grateful that this is where the Lord has me right now because I am growing in the uncomfortable and learning more each day.
I’m also so grateful for each one of your prayers and your generosity that has gotten me to this point.
I ONLY HAVE $132 UNTIL I’M FULLY FUNDED!
God is so faithful, and for that I can never give enough thanks.
– Cara
