This Thanksgiving, what things cause you to be thankful – that are somewhat unique and personal?
I am thankful for many things, but there are some that stand out – specifically because they are mine and mine alone. They are shared, perhaps, in general with some others, but not all have been blessed in quite the same way.
1) My father’s example of pure Christ-like service and love. I have written about it previously on my own blog, so I won’t repeat it here, but I had the unique privilege of seeing a man truly set aside his own life for the woman he loved, and I will be thankful always for that example.
2) My second son was blessed as a baby, with no evidence that he would need such a blessing, to be able to endure all the physical trials that his life would bring him. 18 years later, after extensive allergies, speech articulation issues requiring focused speech therapy, a burst appendix and a failed pancreas (leading to Type 1, juvenile diabetes), I am thankful for that blessing he received as a baby. Truly God knows us and our futures better than we can fathom.
There are more, but I will leave this thread open to you now. What unique blessings have you received – and, as mentioned in KC Kern’s post about obedience and thankfulness, have you returned and given thanks to the one (whoever that is) who provided the blessing?
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Thanks dad, you’re the best. I can’t say how grateful I am to have you and mama as my parents.
With all the love I have,
The allergic, speech impaired, appendix free, diabetic son;
more commonly known as Fejj.
Of the zillions of things I love about Thanksgiving, one of the most important is recognizing those who render service with no expectation of anything in return. So Ray, even though this is probably not what you were expecting, I thank you for putting the thought and the time into your writings here and elsewhere on the Bloggernacle. You think and write in a way that my brain absorbs. Thank you for sharing.
And to all of you who participate so thoughtfully on these blogs I offer my thanks as well. While you are well aware that these are public forums, still the tone is of a bunch of buds hanging out finishing the cheesecake. But there are others here, too, and we are listening to you. I felt like I was standing outside and watching through the window. (think Scrooge and the Ghost, not creepy stalker)
Through your conversations I have learned about the black and white and the shades of gray that permeate both the LDS religion and the LDS culture. This could not have happened any other way. It took this many people’s knowledge and opinions and stories concentrated right here. I don’t think I could have stepped into any one church and found such depth in a timeframe that would have satisfied me. This is not to diminish the value of Real Life People, of course. I hope you know what I mean. It took all of you to show me that I fit within acceptable parameters.
Truly, by your fruits are you known. You believe what you live, and you live what you believe, and it is inspiring. Mostly because of the Church’s doctrine, but also largely because of how much I admire the people I have seen here, I was baptized last weekend. For this, and for the roles all of you played in getting me here, I am thankful.
Ellen
I’m grateful to have been diagnosed with ADD this year (and treated!), for my dearest youngest child, Tourette’s Syndrome and all, for my older child who shared all of our grief with us and for my wife who has been not only better than I deserve, but better than I had ever dreamed possible.
Stephen,
I’m thankful to know you’re along with me for the ADD ride. It brings lots of ups and downs, but I wouldn’t trade it for anything.
I’m not sure if you’ve written about your ADD journey, but I’ve love to hear sometime – the good, the bad and how it has affected your views on the gospel and how you live life, contrasting before and since diagnosis and treatment.
All in all, this has been one of the hardest, most unpredictable years of my life, but, like the ADD diagnosis, I wouldn’t trade it.
I’ll end this post quickly before the Klonopin I just took takes over my thoughts and I write something truly foolish.
I feel deep gratitude for the peace I feel in my heart. My life hasn’t gone as I planned or as I had hoped for, but as a grandfather now I feel that nothing that has happened (physical disability, resulting depression, financial troubles…) can eclipse the glory of the blessings I enjoy together with my family.
Also, I grew up without a religion. I found the restored gospel when I was 19, and since then it hasn’t ceased to amaze me that someone can love me as much as my Savior does.
My most awesome blessing was in 1987, after the birth of one of my sons-the birth was difficult, and the oldest nurse had to insert my catheter, because my sweeling was severe,& my bladder was “playing possum”. They had told me the baby had leukemia. I spiked a 103.8 fever on returning home. The baby was 4 wks. early. A Brother who was my home teacher blessed me, along with my other home teacher. Two days later, my doctor exclaimed, “My GOd! Did you even HAVE a baby?! My healing and that of the baby, were truly very intense and real. He is fine-no leukemia, and 13 1/2 mos. later, he got a brother!