The church secretary from my church texted me earlier this week and asked for a brief statement of what I am thankful for to be included in an upcoming church bulletin accompanied by a mug shot. Cool. Notice before I go further the word "brief".
I put a lot of thought into it, and even separated what I am most currently thankful for into tangibles and intangibles. And sent it to her. She never got it, and texted me yesterday about it. I tried again and told her it might be too long. She said she could trim it down if necessary, and it still didn't go through. I sent again, and she got it...and replied she would definitely have to trim it down, that she only had room for 15-20 words. I counted. My "brief" statement was 80 words. 😀 Hey, she has known me since Bible college. She should know by now I am wordy. 😎
She sent me the heavily trimmed version, but left out tacos, so I texted her back "You couldn't squeeze tacos in?" She replied with a laughing emoji that she would. 😊
I got to thinking later how awesome it is that I have so much to be thankful for that it won't fit into the church bulletin. And I honestly tried to rein myself in some, believe it or not. I deal daily with depression daily, some days worse than others, but I have been trying to focus on being thankful for....and man, there is a lot to be thankful for. Much more than I crammed into 80 words....or that our awesome church secretary re-crammed into around 20 words.
If we have food on our table, a roof over our heads, clothing, clean water, and freedom, we have more than many people across the globe.
And if we know Jesus as our personal Savior, that alone is enough to be thankful for.
The full 80 words I wrote for the church bulletin:
This Thanksgiving season there are many things I am thankful for, and so many things I take for granted. These top my list of things I am thankful for:
The intangibles: forgiveness, grace, mercy, second - and more chances, freedom, Emmanuel (God with us), Fall, Spring, Summer, and laughter and humor.
The tangibles: a family who loves me, a roof over my head, clothing to wear, my car, food on my table, a good job I like, books, music, days off, and tacos.
