I was recently mulling over some lists I’ve made in the past, lists of things I was thankful for.
One list I came across was written several years ago.
I was surprised that, with only some slight modifications, many of the things I had been thankful for then were still relevant today.
Some were entirely different.
Reflecting on these things showed me something about my priorities, and the direction my life has taken.
These eight made the cut this year:
- I’m thankful for good books. I love reading them, collecting them, and sometimes just smelling the old ones. My love for good books has grown since I made that list.
- I’m thankful for authentic friends who stay friends in the good times and the bad. I’m talking about the ones who love you when you disagree about important issues and would still help you bury a dead body if you needed them to. 🙂
- I’m thankful for the peers, mentors and spiritual advisers in my life who have been genuinely interested in my spiritual well-being, and not in what my failure or success in ministry might mean to their personal empires.
- I’m thankful for my Church family.
- I’m thankful for Logos School, Logos Online School, and Roman Roads Media. I can’t begin to place a value on the education my son is receiving, and the opportunity I’ve been afforded to teach with such a remarkable faculty of teachers.
- I’m thankful for my parents. They were just kids when they were raising my brothers and me, and given my experience raising my own children, I respect them even more today.
- I’m particularly thankful for my family: my beautiful wife, my remarkable children, and sweet, sweet grandbabies. The older I get, the more I realize just how blessed I am.
- Mostly, I’m thankful for my Savior. What can I even begin to say about the Son of God who is a friend to sinners? He paid my sin debt with his own life. He gave me the Holy Spirit to change and redeem me. He reconciled me back to my Heavenly Father and forgave me of all my sins. Then he turns around and blesses me with his abundant grace and everlasting mercy. I’m thankful that he is who he is: glorious, marvelous, precious, and Holy Creator. He’s my Redeemer, my Savior, and friend.
Of course, these are just a few of my favorites things…. What are you most thankful for this Thanksgiving? Feel free to share in the comments.