Thankful Thursday

I've read on others' blogs that some blog "Thankful Thursday," a nod to Thanksgiving and a way of expressing profound and ongoing thanksgiving to the Father, Son, and Spirit for countless blessings. So I thought it appropriate to start the same on THE thankful Thursday. I'll start with Abraham Lincoln's words (borrowed from Malia) proclaiming the first national Thanksgiving observance:

The year that is drawing towards its close, has been filled with the blessings of fruitful fields and healthful skies. To these bounties, which are so constantly enjoyed that we are prone to forget the source from which they come, others have been added, which are of so extraordinary a nature, that they cannot fail to penetrate and soften even the heart which is habitually insensible to the ever watchful providence of Almighty God. In the midst of a civil war of unequalled magnitude and severity, which has sometimes seemed to foreign States to invite and to provoke their aggression, peace has been preserved with all nations, order has been maintained, the laws have been respected and obeyed, and harmony has prevailed everywhere except in the theatre of military conflict; while that theatre has been greatly contracted by the advancing armies and navies of the Union. Needful diversions of wealth and of strength from the fields of peaceful industry to the national defence, have not arrested the plough, the shuttle, or the ship; the axe had enlarged the borders of our settlements, and the mines, as well of iron and coal as of the precious metals, have yielded even more abundantly than heretofore. Population has steadily increased, notwithstanding the waste that has been made in the camp, the siege and the battle-field; and the country, rejoicing in the consciousness of augmented strength and vigor, is permitted to expect continuance of years, with large increase of freedom.No human counsel hath devised nor hath any mortal hand worked out these great things. They are the gracious gifts of the Most High God, who, while dealing with us in anger for our sins, hath nevertheless remembered mercy.It has seemed to me fit and proper that they should be solemnly, reverently and gratefully acknowledged as with one heart and voice by the whole American people. I do therefore invite my fellow citizens in every part of the United States, and also those who are at sea and those who are sojourning in foreign lands, to set apart and observe the last Thursday of November next, as a day of Thanksgiving and Praise to our beneficent Father who dwelleth in the Heavens. And I recommend to them that while offering up the ascriptions justly due to Him for such singular deliverances and blessings, they do also, with humble penitence for our national perverseness and disobedience, commend to his tender care all those who have become widows, orphans, mourners or sufferers in the lamentable civil strife in which we are unavoidably engaged, and fervently implore the interposition of the Almighty Hand to heal the wounds of the nation and to restore it as soon as may be consistent with the Divine purposes to the full enjoyment of peace, harmony, tranquillity and Union.

(Lincoln had such a gift verbal expression!)

I'm thankful for:

my family (loving husband, Bob; daughter, Loni and son, Trey, who are home with us today; Dad and Mom, who drove the long hours from North Carolina to be here today, too; daughter, Lisa, son via Lisa's marriage Dan, grandsons Nathaniel, Jeremy, and Derek)

extended family in California, New Jersey and Texas

our new church family in Mount Dora who has been so gracious, loving, accepting and has become so dear

our church family throughout the world, especially in Tabernacle (miss you!) and Randolph, New Jersey

holidays, especially the winter ones

God the Father's sacrifice of His precious Son; Christ my Savior's willingness to die so that I can live in fellowship with Them forever; the Holy Spirit Who indwells me, comforts me, guides me

for my relationship with the Godhead Who brought me/us through the most painful year of my life so far with grace, peace, patience, and assurance (and support, too, from His Body)