Same Kind of Different
Today is the same as yesterday. But different.
It’s raining. Pouring actually, and some old man is probably snoring.
I’m thankful for the rain, even though it makes things a bit tricky. Mud is not my friend. It makes the “walking on ice” feeling I have constantly even more prominent, but, I’m still very thankful for it.
Today isn’t a time to think about ourselves. Well, you can if you want, but I want to think about others today. The friend who’s traveling to see a relative in the last days of their struggle with cancer- Oh how I hate that disease. The mom spending the day watching Hallmark movies, the guy who has to work. The family sharing their time serving dinner to the homeless and the ones who will have a houseful of loved ones. All different. All experiencing today in their own way.
I wonder if their day started the same as yesterday, but different.
Who will wake up with a multitude of tasks to complete before noon? Who is stretching their legs to ready themselves to run down and around city streets? Who is traveling in this rain? Who wishes today isn’t happening?
Recently I saw a profound question: What if today you only had what you were thankful for yesterday? I don’t know about you, but that was an eye-opener for me. When was the last time you recognized something you are thankful for? Is it really that hard?
As hard as I try to start and end my day with thanksgiving, I catch myself asking instead. Asking for things is usually at the front of my mind. What if the only conversation you had was someone asking for something from you and never thanking you for it?
Today I’m starting off my day mostly the same as any other day, but I’m putting thankfulness at the front of my mind. Maybe today I will end my day with huge thanksgiving, but for sure I’m going to focus on being thankful for something every hour if not every minute.
As the thunder and pounding rain woke me early, I was thankful. Even before I groaned at the sloppy mess that comes from it, I am so very thankful for it. I’m thankful for the ability to write these thoughts and place them on a platform that might encourage someone who reads them. And number one, I am more thankful than I have words for that I have a relationship with my savior that I can enjoy whenever and however I like. I’m covered with His mercy. I’m blessed with His provisions daily and His love.
Already this morning my list is filling fast as I recognize love from friends that bless me and I’m praying for them, for you, and for family that I won’t see today. I pray that everyone could know HIS blessing and can realize things to give thanks for.
1 Thessalonians 5:15-23
1 Chronicles 16:34
Psalm 100:4
