The Wading Pool

(I know I’m late on this, but better late than never, right?)

Every night when we put our kids to bed, before we say our prayers and sing “Jesus Loves Me”  (two times, right Caroline?), we go around the family and say what we’re thankful for.  Hearing the hearts of your 5 and 3 year olds as they list their thankfuls (for my youngest, thankful sounds like “stankful”), well…lets just say it’s always one of the highlights of my day, because for us, each day is a Thanksgiving Day.

Each day, when I take the time to sit and think about it, I realize just how blessed I am.  Each day, if I’ll allow my heart to settle and my thoughts to clear, I’ll take a moment to “count my blessings, and name them one by one.”  And the list is huge, far too big to bore everyone by putting it all down here.  God knows my heart, and I hope I do a good job of letting all my loved ones know that I am truly thankful for them.

Then again, can you ever do a good enough job at that?

There is so much to be thankful for!  My wife (whom I still can’t believe said yes to me!) gets more beautiful every day, and has stood by my side through so much.  My two girls that bless me in so many ways.  My son, who has yet to make his debut, but is waiting in the wings.  My parents, who have always been there for us and have always show me crazy support.  My in-laws who are the best in-laws a guy could ask for, even though my father-in-law calls me “Rat” (which is crazy, considering he’s the world’s greatest pack-rat).  My brothers and sisters and brothers and sisters-in-law who I’ve worked and lived with…I love all you guys.

I have been so fortunate to make very good friends at both my church and my work (which are the same now, but it wasn’t always that way!).  Good friends are truly a blessing, because, unlike family, they don’t have to love you no matter what!  Yet, the one’s I’ve been given do just that!  From teachers to students, worship team-ers to furniture dealers and neighbors, I’ve been and am blessed.

We have a roof over our heads, food in our pantry, and heat that works.  Clothes on our backs and in our closets, and shoes that have soles on them.  My family is healthy, and as I’ve mentioned before, we have both sets of parents with us.  I get to go to “work” every day at my church and do ministry, and then, a few times a week, I get to pick up my guitar and help lead people in the worship of the Triune God.  Wow.  Truly, I am a blessed man.

We say it so much, it’s become trite, but I don’t know why God has blessed me so.  I really don’t.  I’ll be in the line in heaven that will argue with the apostle Paul for the title of the “chief of sinners”.  Yet God, in His great mercy, has truly, truly blessed me.  I know a blog like this doesn’t come into the realm of doing justice to the thanks that is due, yet it’s the best I can do.

I know full well that every good and perfect gift comes from my Father above, and I’m fully aware that the greatest gift I could ever be given was the salvation that was won for my at the cross, and that the debt I owed has been paid in full.  Oh yeah, I’m VERY thankful.

Truly, my cup runneth over.