The windshield cracked, a headlight went out, our signal was getting snowy, bills were keeping finances very tight, a favorite shoe was showing a hole, windows were steaming between panes, the fireplace was smoky, too many light bulbs had burnt out in a couple rooms, the carpet had been chewed through by the dog leaving a fat hole by the door, the roof had leaked over the water heater in the storm, the iron leaked water, the refrigerator didn’t have anything tasty in it, the motion lights had gone black, the lawn needed a rake, a new stain on the driveway meant a repair, the foot hadn’t yet healed from a twist, and the holiday season was already upon us.
These were but a few of the items to fill our list today and in the middle of it all, it was time to stop and be thankful so that’s what we do. We are thankful for the jobs which keep us too busy to tend to all that needs to be done in any given day, week or month. We are thankful for the cars which get us back and forth to our jobs and the other enjoyments we participate in. We are thankful for our precious house which needs upkeep but keeps us warm and dry. We are thankful for the provisions to pay the bills. We are thankful to have a fireplace which heats our homes on those nights we can be home to enjoy it. We are thankful for the ragged carpet which is soft beneath our feet and the list of thanks goes on far longer than our needs.
For every uncomfortable situation before us, there is a reason for us to draw our minds to appreciation and thankfulness. Sometimes we can’t be grateful for what we have without understanding what it would be like without it.