Trust & Obey

It’s hard for me to be thankful right now. The present has been nothing but a grind day after day, and it feels like a never ending work week. No matter how hard I push myself, by the end of each day, there is something else I could be doing or needs to get done. It’s like I can’t catch a break, and it’s been so draining. So, with the holidays rolling around, I struggle to get excited. Now, it’s not just business as usual, but I have a husband and we have to figure out our traditions while also juggling my family’s festivities, and figuring out how to be apart of my husband’s family’s plans. It’s just so daunting.

Here’s the thing, though: if we never take time during the holidays to be with our family, and think about what we are thankful for, we will never get the time. That is what the holidays are meant for. It’s meant to be a time of remembering to be thankful for our family and all we have, or remember what Christ did for us by coming down to earth. We need the holidays as a reason to stop and spend time thanking God for all He has done for us, not as a reason to get busier. The holidays are meant to flavor our lives with excitement of what’s to come and gratitude for all that we have been blessed with, not chase after more. So, in honor of Thanksgiving, here is my list of things I am grateful for this year, and I would encourage you to do the same (it seems corny until you walk away content with your life!):

Matt (my husband)

I am immensely grateful for Matt, and all the ways he has been so loving and supportive. I have been trying to figure out grad school and I know it could be tough on us financially, but Matt has been so encouraging and wants nothing but the best for me. He’s had a crazy year, but it has only revealed his character and made him grow closer to Christ.

Our Apartment

Sure, it creaks a lot. Sure, the neighbors never shut up. However, it has become such a cute home for me and Matt, and I love walking in every day after work. It’s taken time to feel like home (especially when my parents are only three minutes away), but I see that it has for me. It’s now all decorated for Christmas, and it’s been so magical to decorate my own apartment with my husband. Definitely surreal.

Sam (my youngest brother)

Obviously, I am thankful for my whole family. All of them are a great time. This year, though, Sam and I have gotten really close, partially because we share a work place and a bunch of coworkers. It’s been an honor to get to see his personality come to the surface and see the shift from a little kid to an adult. I wasn’t the best older sister to him when he was smaller, so I feel like I have gotten to make up for lost time as an adult and be a positive part of his life. Now, I see that he is goofy, sometimes chatty sometimes not, but most importantly, so insightful. Sam is always causing me to rethink things, and look at them from a new angle. It has made his friendship invaluable to me, and one I am thankful I get to have all my life.

My wedding

It was perfect! The colors were elegant, and vintage glam style was everywhere. The pictures were exactly what I wanted, and everyone that came had so much fun and left feeling blessed. I was so worried people would be bored, or feel uncomfortable. Nearly every wedding I have been to has been awkward or boring (except two), and I could not stand the thought of mine being boring too. Every time I look at pictures and watch videos from August 2nd, I am filled with so much joy and thankfulness. It was perfect, and I could not have asked for anything better.

My friends

From my cousin that I call once a week to talk about the book we are reading to my good friend that pops in for coffee every other week, I have been so blessed by my relationships this year. Each week I get to see so many friends, and that has kept me up throughout so much change and craziness. I have also been blessed by my women’s group at church and our pastor who runs it. She has taught me so much, and group brings so much comradery and laughter. It’s been a blessing to get to know all these women at my church that I wouldn’t usually get the opportunity to talk with on Sunday.

Growing closer to God

It’s been a process for sure, but I am seeing the progress over this year. God has called out to me, and I have sought Him, and that is all He asks. I have learned about hearing His voice through Dallas Willard’s book Hearing From God, I have learned I need to trust and obey from Elisabeth Elliot’s Keep a Quiet Heart and Dietrich Bonhoeffer’s The Cost of Discipleship, and I am currently learning who Christ is through Gentle and Lowly by Dane Ortlund. It’s been a year of massive growth, and I hope every single year of my life is that way (otherwise, I will probably get boring.)

Remembering all the ways we can be thankful is critical to living a fulfilling and joyful life. Whether we are living large or barely scraping by, there is always something to praise the Lord about, and that is what He calls us to do. So, this Thanksgiving, take some time to think about what you are thankful for and, if it’s someone in your life, let them know how thankful you are for them!