Thanks

I know that Thanksgiving is the time of year that people are usually thankful. Or at least the time of year that people remember to be thankful.

I know that gratitude needs to be cultivated and it should be a constant state of being.

And as much as I try to be thankful and count my blessings throughout the year, I am still not very thankful most of the time.

Not saying I'm rude and don't use the words "thank you", but I often take for granted the little things (and the big things) in my life.

I don't deserve what I have. I don't deserve my house or my car or my husband or my friends or my job or warmth or any of it. And I certainly don't deserve to have my sins forgiven.

And yet, for some reason, I have this wonderful life with these wonderful people in it.

It's not perfect but it's a beautiful mess of love, pain, and joy.

And I wouldn't trade this mess for anything.

This year has taught me a lot about being thankful for what I have, for the beautiful people that I can call my family and friends, and for the hard times. Even when life brings you to your knees, there is still so much to be thankful for.

I may not express it daily, but I truly am thankful for this life that God has given me. I am thankful for the opportunities He's put in my path, and the trials I've learned and grown from.