I have so much for which to be thankful! I was thinking about this time last year. I had just suffered the worse MS attack I've had thus far. I was unable to get in or out of bed without help. My daughter would have to call my Mom in the mornings when we woke up to come help. I had to have a portable toilet in the most non-private of places because I couldn't use a walker to walk even one step and I couldn't get my wheelchair into a bathroom. I had to have my husband lift me into the bathtub where I could sit and bathe. I never felt so helpless and useless in my life.
But through all that God has allowed me to learn so many things; for that I am so grateful!!! I heard a dear pastor friend preach a message years ago about how we should view the "valleys" in life as training grounds and ask God to help us learn what it is that He wants us to learn and to help us to not miss the lesson. That has been a prayer of mine over the past year. I'm truly grateful for all that I have learned!
Last Thanksgiving I talked my husband through the Thanksgiving meal cooking. (That was even more exhausting than cooking it myself!) I wouldn't hear of not having the traditional family/friends meal as usual. I was wrong. I've learned that things will never be the same as they were and it's okay to start new traditions... or to even be a little spontaneous. So this year we are doing things VERY different! We actually (gasp) ordered our Thanksgiving meal from Bob Evans. I didn't bake anything... because I can't, and that's okay. The in-laws aren't coming (and, boy, is M-I-L upset), and neither is anyone else.
We are staying in our p.j.'s and decorating our Christmas tree while we watch the parade and the national dog show that Gidget loves to watch each year. (I could live without it!) My hubby is going to follow the heating directions and heat up our meal. Then we are going to sit around the card table which will be draped with a paper table cover instead of my nice linens (my dining room has been converted into a school room because of the wheelchair situation) . We are going to talk about what we are truly thankful for and give thanks to God.
It's going to be a very different Thanksgiving this year, but I'm very different this year! God is molding me into what He wants me to be. I got tired of fighting change. It's time to embrace God's plan for my life. It brings true joy when you do that!!!
I'm excited and happy and truly, deeply thankful to God for His mercy and grace!!!
HAPPY THANKSGIVING!!!
But through all that God has allowed me to learn so many things; for that I am so grateful!!! I heard a dear pastor friend preach a message years ago about how we should view the "valleys" in life as training grounds and ask God to help us learn what it is that He wants us to learn and to help us to not miss the lesson. That has been a prayer of mine over the past year. I'm truly grateful for all that I have learned!
Last Thanksgiving I talked my husband through the Thanksgiving meal cooking. (That was even more exhausting than cooking it myself!) I wouldn't hear of not having the traditional family/friends meal as usual. I was wrong. I've learned that things will never be the same as they were and it's okay to start new traditions... or to even be a little spontaneous. So this year we are doing things VERY different! We actually (gasp) ordered our Thanksgiving meal from Bob Evans. I didn't bake anything... because I can't, and that's okay. The in-laws aren't coming (and, boy, is M-I-L upset), and neither is anyone else.
We are staying in our p.j.'s and decorating our Christmas tree while we watch the parade and the national dog show that Gidget loves to watch each year. (I could live without it!) My hubby is going to follow the heating directions and heat up our meal. Then we are going to sit around the card table which will be draped with a paper table cover instead of my nice linens (my dining room has been converted into a school room because of the wheelchair situation) . We are going to talk about what we are truly thankful for and give thanks to God.
It's going to be a very different Thanksgiving this year, but I'm very different this year! God is molding me into what He wants me to be. I got tired of fighting change. It's time to embrace God's plan for my life. It brings true joy when you do that!!!
I'm excited and happy and truly, deeply thankful to God for His mercy and grace!!!
2 comments:
I'm so happy for you. Thank you for writing this. I really needed to read this tonight. Our Thanksgiving will look different tomorrow, too, and my job right now is to stop fighting that and accept it!
Enjoy your day; it sounds perfect.
xoxo
Denise
Dear Stacey,
I've been away for so long.. life with two little ones and being single. Last year i didn't have a thanksgiving.. last year this time was very hard for me too. am pregnant and have a 2 year old to take care of, nowhere to go.. list goes on.
dear one, enjoy your day!
love and ((hugs))
bindi
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