“Be thankful in all circumstances, for this is God’s will for you who belong to Christ Jesus.” 1 Thessalonians 5:18

I am thankful today (and every day) for the gift of eternal life, offered freely to me through the death and resurrection of the Son of the Omnipotent Creator of all things. I am thankful for the opportunities given to me in this life. I am grateful for the thousands of people who have poured into me and made my life a tapestry full of color, kindness, care, love, encouragement and purpose.

I am thankful for my life partner, my best friend, my closest confidant, Megan. I am thankful for the three greatest gifts of my life, Benton, Malia and Kensley and the challenges they present that cause me to strive to be a worthy and good dad. I am thankful for the gift of laughter in our family and our extended family/friends and the memories of laughing around camp fires, kitchen islands, broken down cars, food attempts gone wrong, devastating events overcome by laughing…life. Thank You, Father for the gift of laughter.

I am thankful for my/our Christian brothers and sisters who are friends and extended family. I am thankful for a life filled with failures, some successes, always next, hope for the future, respect for the past, understanding of and in purpose. I am thankful to have lived long enough to gain greatest joy through giving and sharing. I am thankful that God allows me to thrive in my health despite being diagnosed with Type-II diabetes 16 years ago.

I am thankful for the roads that I have traveled because they allow me to better understand those like me who have come to the Father or are in need of the Father’s love because of the brokenness caused by their life travels. I am thankful to know how loud a dry falling leaf can be as it cascades down from its place of hierarchy and joins the pallet of leaves that blankets the forest floor. I am thankful to have witnessed the epic battles that occur between squirrels as they chase one another for hours, fighting over a single nut or tree, while dozens of trees and thousands of nuts surround.

I am thankful for God teaching me that joy is lasting and happiness fleeting. I am thankful for all my/our stuff, but more thankful for the journey and effort that was needed to acquire the stuff. And it’s just stuff! I am thankful that I am privileged to spend another year having my 88 year-old father in my life. I am thankful for life. For hope. For joy. For God’s promises.

If you have read this far, I am so very thankful for you and your impact on my life. You matter to me and to every person whose life you come into contact. You are appreciated.