5 THINGS TO BE THANKFUL FOR

K e e p   y o u r   e y e s   o p e n   t o   m e r c i e s .

T h e   m a n   w h o   f o r g e t s   t o   b e   t h a n k f u l   h a s   f a l l e n   a s l e e p   i n   l i f e .

Robert Louis Stevenson

Sometimes I've found myself repeating the same "I'm thankful for _______" when we go around the table on Thanksgiving Day and tell each other what we are thankful for. Usually I say my parents, or family, or a roof over my head. But that just becomes kind of mundane to me after a while. Don't get me wrong, I am so very grateful for supportive parents, my huge family, and a roof over my head. Those things shouldn't be belittled just because they are the most popular things to say. But this year, I've decided to take a different route. I've composed a list of five things to be thankful for. Maybe these things are not typically on your "What I'm Thankful For" list, but honestly, they should be. Without these five things, would our lives truly be the same?

1.  C o l o r

What would a life without color look like? Would everything be black and white like the old movies, or would a life without color be something that our minds cannot even grasp since, technically speaking, black and white are colors? Be thankful for color in your life. Be thankful for the lush green in the trees, or that time during the fall when leaves turn from a beautiful lime to lemon. Be thankful for the rich red in apples, or the deep black in the ink of your favorite pen. Be grateful for the rosy cheeks everyone has when it's cold outside, and the steamy, creamy-colored hot chocolate you get to drink. 

2.  I n k

If the world were to have never of known what ink was, would we not have books or magazines or newspapers? Would we have found another way to write things down or print? Or would the written word be so scarce because the authors would have to hand write each copy? These are just a couple of things to think about. I am grateful for ink because it allows novels to be copied, books to be published, and pages to have words on them. Without ink, none of those things would be possible.

3.  L i b r a r i e s

When you walk into a library, can you just feel the different stories around you? Can you almost taste the enrichment of history, the empowerment of the written word? Libraries are stores of knowledge, and I want to tap into it. Not enough can be said about libraries, but when you get down to the core of it, without libraries, how many people would stop reading because they couldn't afford to buy every book they wanted? How many children would never develop a love for books because their school never took them on field-trips to the library, or didn't have a library in their school. How many people would have to quench their love for books if their were no libraries?

4.  L a u g h t e r

Laughter is the best medicine for heavy hearts and weary souls. What a dreary and awful world it would be without the giggle of children and the deep belly laughs of grown folk. A world without laughter would be like a world without happiness or joy. I am so thankful that God gave us the ability to laugh, because without laughter, there would be no riddles or jokes or puns. Their would be no comedies or light-hearted movies. Their would be no light in young children's eyes, nor would their be an relief for an adults stressful day. Laughter is so vital to our lives, and I thank God we are able to laugh.

5.  M u s i c

So many people find strength in music. So many people find relief and joy when they hear music that pulls on their heartstrings. I am not one of those people who think that music is life to them, or that without music, they would surely perish. But I am one of those people who greatly enjoys music and those who make it. I love coming home from a long day at work or school and putting on my favorite Pandora Station (which, in case anyone didn't know, was Celtic Woman). I, personally, love Irish/Celtic music because of the stories they carry in their words. Without music in our world, would their be singing or dancing? Would stories go untold, or songs become a thing of the past? Would ballet never grace our eyes? Would we be able to sing praises to Jesus, or sing songs of sorrow and pain? 

There is so much to be thankful for this Thanksgiving. I pray that your day would be full of turkey and loved ones and cranberry sauce and parades and laughter and music and lots of thanksgiving. I'll be back here on Monday with a new post as I've found that in order to get my five goals achieved, I need to be able to have a little extra time set aside for them. But in the mean time, have a great Thanksgiving and a great week off of school.

H a p p y   T h a n k s g i v i n g !