I have spent the last 365 days finding different ways I am thankful. While most of them have been about people, we have so much to be thankful for, even the little things that occur in our every day routines. It has definitely been one of the more challenging and rewarding things I have ever done in my life.
Through this experience I have realized that we have more things to be thankful for than we can count. I quickly learned that the 30 days of Thankfulness in November, where this all began, wasn't long enough for all the blessings I have. Not that 365 days is either but it definitely allowed me to become more aware and to "count my blessings".
In my final year of college, God used this project to prepare me for overseas. Often times we only think about our material possessions when we are thankful. Third world countries don't have these luxuries so their blessings look a lot different than ours. When I reflected on my days, I really tried to find non-physical things that I had discussed with someone that day or thought about unlike days prior. It definitely took some work on my part to seek out unique things that we don't usually recognize.
Honestly, there is something every minute of every day to be thankful for. We have life and love, what else do you need? I've heard the saying "What if we only wake up with the things we thanked God for yesterday?" We'd never be able to sleep! Here's my challenge to you, whether you make it public or not, every day seek out that one thing that made today different than your normal routine. Be it good or bad, thank Jesus for it.
1 Thessalonians 5:18 "Give thanks in all circumstances;
for this is God’s will for you in Christ Jesus."
This is our life and we have so much to thank God for all He has given us. I cannot believe this year of public thankfulness has come to an end. Thank you for all your encouragement along the way because God used it to keep me going and pushing forward to complete the whole year. Here I am, a college graduate, living at home, almost 24, but these things don't have to define me because Jesus is so much greater than our human identities.
