Thanksgiving 2020 Reflections

I opened my email the other night to see a notification that a package I had ordered had been delivered by the USPS. I wasn’t expecting it until the next day so that was nice to learn. I contemplated waiting until the next morning to go out and get it but thought perhaps it would be best to go ahead and get it. I mean, you never know who might steal it from the mailbox. The only hesitation was that my hair was wet as I had just had a shower, I had on my pajamas, and, well, it was COLD outside. But I slipped on my flip flops (my shoe of choice in warm weather and my “grab something quick go to” as well at other times 😊) and headed out in the cold with my wet head to retrieve my delivery.

Ok, you must be thinking…. Who cares about your delivery, wet hair, pajamas, and flip flops. Well just stay with me a bit. 😊

In spite of the cold temperature outside, it was a beautiful night. The sky was crystal clear, the moon was shining ever so brightly and the stars were sparkling so brilliantly. I quickly walked to the street and grabbed the package from my mailbox and headed back inside, all the while enjoying the beauty of the night, that, had I not received the notification, I would not have seen. As I stepped into my warm house, I started thinking about my blessings. (I know, silly, right? But that is just how my brain works.) With it being the week to celebrate Thanksgiving 2020 and all, I realized how blessed I truly am.

· I have a warm home

· I have food on the table

· Clothes to wear (and my favorite flip flops 😊)

· I have a healthy body and a sound mind

· I was able to attend church the day before. I had missed it so much during lockdown.

· My husband and I recently had the privilege of visiting our daughter and her sweet family who live in another part of the country. We had not seen them in almost two years! (We were supposed to travel to visit earlier this year but, well, covid paused the trip.)

· I get to see my other daughter and her sweet family frequently as they live nearby

· I am blessed with wonderful friends and family

This year, 2020, has been a year for the record books.

It has been a year of many extremes. 2020 has presented many challenges and difficulties for so many and not only because of the challenges of covid, but life in general. Many have faced great loss. Natural disasters such as hurricanes have been at a record number. I even felt the tremble of an earthquake. There have been raging wildfires in parts of the country and the world. There has been violence in cities across the USA on a level that I’ve never seen…. a level that I find hard to comprehend. Toilet paper and food shortages…. Well the list goes on and on.

At times it has felt like the world has gone off the deep end. An honestly, I’d be scared if I didn’t know WHO is in control and how the story will ultimately end for believers. (That is another thing that I am thankful for…. My salvation!!)

So I'm thankful I had the moment out in the cold the other night to help me see how thankful I truly am. I am blessed beyond measure.

So I encourage you to take a moment to contemplate your blessings. Take a moment to pause, reflect and say a prayer of thanks to the God who gives all blessings. I pray that your Thanksgiving 2020 is wonderful! And I pray that 2021 will be a wonderful year!

"Give thanks to the Lord, for he is good; his love endures forever." 1 Chronicles 16:34

“The Lord bless you and keep you; the Lord make his face shine on you and be gracious to you, the Lord turn his face toward you and give you peace.” Numbers 6:24-26

“May His favor be upon you And a thousand generations And your family and your children And their children, and their children” The Blessing – Elevation Worship