A Thankful Heart

is a happy heart…

Because a thankful heart is a happy heart!
I’m glad for what I have,
That’s an easy way to start!

Yes, in the inimitable words of Madame Blueberry of VeggieTales fame, I’m glad for what I have

I’ve lived in Canada for over 13 years now, and I’m slowly getting used to Thanksgiving in October. I even remembered to buy a turkey ahead of time this year! But since I am, as The Boy puts it, “The only one in this family who doesn’t get to share in Canadian history since Dad and I are both Canadian and American but you’re only American”, I always feel Thanksgiving in November.

Perhaps this is because it’s the only major holiday that my family of origin had built traditions around, since we opted out of Christmas. Perhaps it’s because, culturally, I find Thanksgiving in the US to be much bigger than the same holiday in my adopted home. Whatever the reason, I always feel myself inspired to write a thankfulness list this time of year.

So, here’s this year’s list:

I’m thankful that I have a wonderful marriage.
I don’t drone on and on about The Husband too much, because I don’t want to make you all jealous But I’m married to a man who for all his quirks and foibles is nonetheless the perfect man for me and my quirks and foibles – neither of us expects (or gets!) perfection from our spouse, and yet we have a marriage that I have no doubt was arranged by God. Yes, I admit the odds were against us in the beginning. But every year that goes by shows me more and more that this man and I were meant to be together.

I’m thankful that I have a precocious, amazing, hilarious, creative son.
You can read a very long post about him here. The Boy has truly been a means of Grace in my life, and I don’t take that phrase lightly.

I’m thankful that I have a fulfilling and enjoyable job.
In this economy (living this close to the border, we feel the pinch of rising food and gas prices) I know jobs are becoming more and more scarce. I’ve been blessed with a job that I find rewarding and challenging, one that fits my personality and skills like nothing I’ve ever had before. I get to interact with amazing people all day long, and get paid to do it. That’s definitely worth giving thanks for!

I’m thankful that I have a diverse circle of friends.
Make that a *really* diverse circle I have friends who range from both ends of just about any spectrum you can imagine. It’s wonderful to have friends that I can learn from even when they differ from me – as a matter of fact, the more unlike me someone is, the more I learn from them. I don’t think humans were ever created to live outside of community with others, and I’m grateful for the interesting, eclectic community of friends I have.

I’m thankful that I have a Father.
Because what would Thanksgiving be without being thankful to the One who has provided all of this in my life? I’m only 34, and yet some days I look back and think that I’ve crammed a much longer lifetime’s worth of experience into these years.
Life is so, so busy – but the moments when I look at the past I can truly see God’s hand working, arranging, making things happen. He truly does work all things for good.

I wish all of you a Happy, Happy Thanksgiving! May your heart be filled with thankfulness, just like Madame Blueberry