3 things I have recently taken for granted

A young man in our town was seriously injured in a football game Friday night and is still fighting the fight of his life in a hospital tonight.  Two other local families were recently forever changed  physically and emotionally by a terrible automobile accident and have a long road ahead of them.  Last night I listened to women share their heartaches over cancer.   Families in crises coping with a multitude of daily hurdles.

Life is tough.

Today I’ve found myself  in deep thought about the people and things I too often take for granted.

one-my health and the health of those I love.  Our boys are healthy and strong and brave!  No one in my family is taking chemo or radiation.  We are able to run our own errands, make our beds each morning and sleep sound each night.  We are able to watch the sunrise and set each day.  Thank you Father for your goodness.  For your protection and provision.  Keep your hand upon us I pray.

two-authentic relationships.  I have been way more than blessed with a REAL family and REAL friends.  By REAL I mean AUTHENTIC.  We don’t play pretend.  We don’t shove things or yuck under the rug.  We talk and question and talk some more until the YUCK or the ruffle is unruffled.

an example: I recently observed another woman being too friendly with my husband.  YUCK. It wasn’t as much what she said but the way she said it.  I’ve walked with the Lord long enough to recognize and heed the prompting of an unsettled spirit within me.  I immediately began to pray for wisdom and discernment on how to address it.  I’m not one to put things off but have also found (through error)that many times responding in haste does more harm than good.  I called on some “near and dears” to pray me through the day.   After much prayer and consideration I decided to address it with my better half that evening. Our conversation began with,

“We’re an honest pair ain’t we?”  (<——raise your hand if you’re a fan of Lonesome Dove?)

And thankfully we are-  An honest pair.  I talked.  He listened.  He talked. I listened.  With complete honesty.  It was good.  Really good to connect and discuss our responsibilities in protecting our marriage.

(side note**I am so very thankful authentic communication was modeled for me.   Family meetings happened as often as needed.  From things as trivial as “where are we going camping?” to settling hostile sibling disputes.  Authentic communication is the way we roll.  Daddy’s favorite question, ” Tell me how you feel about that _______?”   And no.  My daddy is not a therapist and has had no formal training on how to parent hormonal girls.)

Case and point: TALK to each other.  Talk to your parents, your spouse, your siblings, your children.  Yucky things come and go.  Share your happy.  Share your sad.

and finally

three: freedom.  We own the local feed and seed.  Lots of our customers are Veterans.  Many of them shopped with us today.  We thanked them for their service.  We saluted many. We listened to others as they shared their stories.  Their testimonies.  Each one left us feeling more humbled than the one before.

Tonight I am so very, very thankful to live in a free country.  To have the freedom to buy and run a business.  The freedom to teach our children at home.  To pray and praise The Lord with whoever may cross my path each day.  Whether it be a Veteran who shares how he and his wife came to know the Lord while serving in Germany or missionary friends sharing tracts about salvation with us so we may share with others.  Freedoms of the day.

THANK YOU Father for your sacrifice and gift of eternal life through faith so that I may be spiritually free from the bondage of sin.

THANK YOU Veterans for your sacrifice and service so that my family and I may live free.