THANKFUL

As the year slowly comes to an end, we carry out a review of how the year has been. We conclude it has been a good year or a bad year. Some people are able to list out their achievements and some can’t seem to see past the disappointments and failures. For some of us it has been a mix of highs and lows.

The important thing is to keep a thankful heart. I have had my fair and honest share of lows, some were heart wrenching caused me panic attacks, I cried over some and ignored some. I have had my highs and I thought that was when I felt God the closest. Was I ever wrong! God allowed me my tears and wild accusations. And when I was quiet enough, I found He had wrapped His arms around me and all the while I was busy howling about my pain, he was whispering, “Abasiama, I love you!”

Truth is I have too much to be thankful for! As the year comes to an end, I look back with gratitude because it could have been worse had it not been God who hid me, kept me and loved me through all my flaws and headache-giving, heart breaking, sometimes destiny-destroying stupidity. I admit, sometimes it is hard to confess to being your own worst enemy. Like a child who has been warned of the destructive nature of a burning fire and yet curiosity will not permit it to keep his tiny fingers out of the fire.

The beauty of it all is knowing that when the child cries out in pain, its’ mother doesn’t say, I told you so and leaves the child alone. No, she picks up the child and soothes the pain. God does so much better than that, he restores you, and He doesn’t just take away the pain and the hurt. The way God loves is incredible. According to Kirk Franklin, he says of God, “You look past where I am and see where I will be. Though millions call your name, You still make time for me… and though my life has changed, your promises You keep.” I have always thought that, “The best thing in life is to return to a place that has not changed and find the ways in which you have altered.” That place for me is in God.

Over the past 2 weeks I have received heart breaking news from 2 dear friends. One lost his mother, whom he used to refer to as his best friend and the other lost her dad. The lady, in talking to me about how disappointed she was over losing her dad, said, as she was crying, she bemoaned the fact that my dad has been sick for years, 6 years to be exact, and is still alive and hers just died. I thought to myself, “Thank God.” I may not honestly know how to comfort these dear ones as I do not know the pain of such personal loss. I have always told God that if He took away any of my parents before I am ready, which will be after my children give me grandchildren, I think I’ll lose my mind.

So even though the year seems to have had more lows than highs, I have a long uncountable list of things to be thankful for. Below is a list of the ones that readily come to mind.

I am thankful for God, Jesus, Jesus’ name and blood that quell my fears, The Holy Spirit, God’s word that sanctifies me, ministering angels that perform His command.

I am thankful for God’s grace, his mercy, his faithfulness, his undying, unconditional love, his patience with me, his pity, his provision, his guidance, his protection, and his thoughts towards me. I thank God for who He is!

I thank God for my parents, for my siblings and my entire family. For the life He’s given us. The promotions and positive additions to the family.

I thank God for my friends and their families. For the joys, the comfort through the loss, the promotions, the babies, the marriages, and all the little joies de vivre that we tend to take for granted.
I am thankful!