Thanks.

Thanksgiving was just that - a day of thanksgiving.  But it was different this year.  Mostly because I found myself thanking God for things I never dreamed I would.  First for painful emotions that though excruciating, have driven me closer to my Lord and have sharpened my spiritual eyes.  I have come to understand the lyrics to an old familiar song like never before:

So I thank God for the mountains
And I thank Him for the valleys
I thank Him for the storms He's brought me through
Cause if I never had a problem
I wouldn't know that He could solve them
I wouldn't know what faith in God could do.

And life is FULL of problems, isn't it? Oftentimes, the most agonizing ones come right from within our own families - from the people we love, from those for whom we've deeply cared, provided, and for whom we've given our all.  To fully realize their rejection makes the heart sink to depths never before experienced - oh I'm not writing about personal rejection here, but rather the rejection of the very One Who they'll desperately need when their valleys, and storms, and problems begin to rage.  And they will.  And even though He's been slandered and blasphemed and unappreciated to the highest extent, He'll be there for them should they call upon Him from a broken and honest heart.  That's what I know, that's what I've experienced, and that's the Truth as it's recorded in God's Holy Word,  

"For I know the thoughts that I think toward you, saith the Lord, 

thoughts of peace, and not of evil, to give you an expected end.  

¹² Then shall ye call upon me, and ye shall go and pray unto me, 

and I will hearken unto you. ¹³ And ye shall seek me, and find me, 

when ye shall search for me with all your heart."

                                                                            Jeremiah 29:11-13

So I thank God for the mountains.  And I thank Him for the valleys - I thank Him for the storms He's brought me through.  'Cause if I never had a problem, I wouldn't know that He could solve them; I wouldn't know what faith in God could do.  I must tell you that He's been there for me.  And on the days when I feel I cannot take one more step, He cheers me on and gives me inward strength to continue on the path which He has so lovingly placed me - and to make it even more wonderful, He walks next to me and next to Randy while we carry on together - all three of us. To give Him thanks is the very least I can do.