I've Been Thinking - Part 1

I started writing this post approximately two years ago. I've never shared anything this personal but now feels like a good time to do so. I don't know when Part 2 will be published.

I became a Christian at the age of eight. It was during our church's annual crusade. One particular night the words of Pastor Tom Roberts pricked my heart. At the end of the crusade, all who made a decision to follow Christ were baptized at a local beach. To this day, I still remember being at the beach (I assumed my parents took me) and being baptized. I remember feeling like a "new" person, if that is possible for an 8-year-old. But more than that, I remember the next day at school, a classmate

Four Years Ago Today.........

Four years ago today, I did not know that:

I'd be living in LA - I'm thankful.

I'd be living in a smaller house - I'm thankful.

I'd be working from home - I'm thankful.

I'd be a soccer mom and all that entails - I'm thankful.

I'd have a more ethnically diverse group of friends - I'm thankful.

I'd have deep meaningful conversations with my in-laws and connect with them more - I'm thankful.

My sister-in-law would be able to move on after my brother's death and now has a degree of happiness in her life - I'm thankful.

Some family relationships would grow more turbulent before they could get better - I'm thankful.

I'd be part of a growing church that is totally different from any church I've ever experienced - I'm thankful.

My brother's death would allow me to never take anything in life for granted, and to approach everything with a positive prayerful attitude  - I'm thankful.

My husband and I would see the fruits of our labor in our children's lives - I'm thankful.

I would be a blogger - I'm thankful.

Everything that has happened in the past four years has brought me closer to God. God has been there the whole time, but I didn't always sense his presence. As he worked on my heart and my attitude, looking back I can see how His hand is on everything. The irony is, all of the situations listed above aren't perfect and depending on who you talk to, they might seem downright negative, but yet I'm truly thankful for all of the circumstances.

I heard this poem this morning, and it sums up how I feel this thanksgiving season.

My Life is but a Weaving

My life is but a weaving

between my Lord and me;

I cannot choose the colors,

He worketh steadily.

Oft times He weaveth sorrow,

And I, in foolish pride,

Forget He sees the upper,

And I the under side.

Not 'til the loom is silent

and the shuttles cease to fly,

Shall God unroll the canvas

and explain the reason why.

The dark threads are as needful

in the Weaver's skillful hand,

As the threads of gold and silver

in the pattern He has planned.

He knows, He loves, He cares,

nothing this truth can dim.

He gives His very best to those

who leave the choice with Him.

~Author Unknown

In everything give thanks 1Thessalonians 5:18.  Have a wonderful Thanksgiving!