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Dear Lord,
It's that time of year when, as
tradition would have it, family and friends plan to gather
around tables overflowing with a bounty of good food;
surrounded by the love that has brought them all together
once again. And, as is also the tradition, we'll find
ourselves reflecting upon what we are most thankful for.
As I become more of an adult, the life
lessons I'm learning from life's let downs have come a long
way in teaching me to accept and embrace the blessings that
are mine.
As I tuck my children safely beneath
the warmth of a cozy quilt, may my prayers be of thanks for
being given the opportunity to share the really important
things in life-like the love, laughter, and comfort that the
togetherness of family life brings.
Help me to remember what a precious
gift this is when I see helpless children living in despair;
the pain of uncertainty etched across their sad, little
faces.
The longer I live the closer I come to
realize that, more than money, expensive cars, or luxurious
homes, it's the inner peace that comes from making a
difference in someone else's life that is a priceless gift
that fills a person's soul with contentment.
Grant me the compassion Lord, to lend a
helping hand when one is needed; not to judge situations on
looks alone, and to greet each new day as an opportunity to
spread a little sunshine to otherwise gloomy days.
Thank you Lord for teaching me that for
every journey in this life there is a purpose, and that it
is up to me to find the beauty and joy in each message, no
matter how big or how small.
An unasked for hug from a toddler, a
teen who truly cares about what you have to say, and the
ability to find patience when life gets overwhelminly crazy,
are all wonderful gifts that fill my heart with gratitude
for all that is mine to cherish.
Thank you Lord for the children who
love me, for the loving husband who works so hard to give
his family the best of who he is. Devotion and trust are
powerful attributes that neither fame nor fortune can buy,
but I am wealthy Lord because they are mine.
Life is not perfect but it was never
meant to be. Instead it is a constant lesson in the making.
And as we toast to each other's health and happiness this
Thanksgiving holiday, I am ever more aware of the lessons I
am still learning. Through your grace Lord, I am reminded
that you are not finished with me yet.
But, most of all Father, thank you for
the person I am, and for the person I've yet to become.
(c ) 2004 Kathy Whirity
Kathy Whirity lives in Chicago where
she shares her life and love with her husband,Bill, of 28
years, their two daughters, Jaime and Katie, and two
rambunctious retrievers, Holly and Hannah. Kathy is a
family life columnist for two area newspapers.
For more of Kathy's writings you may
visit her web page: KATHY'S MUSINGS FROM THE HEART
http://www.heartwarmers4u.com/members?kathyw
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