Give Thanks

Happy Thanksgiving to all of my friends and family far and near, I pray this day brings love, full bellies and laughter to you and yours.

In this year of great loss, today I am most grateful for what remains.

I've gained a deeper understanding of eucharisteo, being grateful in the midst of great trial, heartache and brokenness. I've watched as family and friends (who are every bit family) came running to lend a hand, wrap arms around and sometimes to just sit in the darkness and cry with... They always remained. 

I've learned to sit down in the middle of warfare and rest. I am a warrior and had no concept of how difficult this would prove to be. It forced a deep level of trusting God to surface that would have never happened without the battle. His peace remained.

I've learned that the God given dreams didn't die in the valley of the shadow of death. I found that as I trusted in the Shepherd and His leading, I would actually be launched quicker into the fulfillment of the dreams at an accelerated rate. His promises remained.

I learned that even though we grieve here in this valley, there is always sustenance. There is a table, oil and a Shepherd that is faithful. The Shepherd remained.

Finally, I've learned that though the loss feels crippling and it seems like we may never recover, a beautiful truth remains and it's this.... NOT EVERYTHING IS LOST. I looked around and realized that the most precious gift is the remaining days with which I can love with all I am the family and friends who remain with me. They deserve ALL of me and ALL that I have to give. I will gratefully remember this truth each time I feel the grief from this season and look back at I what I left in this valley.

Happy Thanksgiving my friends, be WITH those that are with you today and love with all you have.