Counting Your Blessings

Amid the turmoil of today's world I think Thanksgiving is coming at a really good time.   Tonight I listened to the news while some of the Sisters and my companions were watching it.  The entire show seemed to be filled with lots of turmoil and story after story of some other horror that is happening in today's world.   Listening to all the tragedy that people are dealing with makes me look even more at the many blessings I have been given as we celebrate Thanksgiving tomorrow.   All week I have been trying not to think about the fact that I am spending the holiday far away from my family, but after listening to the news that should really be the least of my worries.  Am I sad to not be joining them tomorrow? Absolutely.  Am I going to miss them and all the traditions and inside jokes from years past? Without a doubt.   But tomorrow I will wake up in a house that has heat, I will have three square meals, I will spend the day with people who care about me and even if it isn't my blood relatives, I'll be spending the holiday with a group of people, who over that last few months have become some sort of family to me.  There are plenty of people out there who don't know if they will have a meal, if they have shelter from the cold, if they will spend it with people who care about them, or how they are going to spend it.  On this new adventure of my life there are sacrifices and in the scheme of things the things I find to be huge sacrifices are minimal compared to the many issues people face each day.

Today we attended the Thanksgiving prayer service the high school had before they left for break. One of the things I found very striking was when one of the girls read a piece about being thankful for our misfortunes and our struggles because they give us an opportunity to really see how lucky we are in this life.  I'd never thought about it that way and it is definitely giving me something to think about today.  

I'm thankful this year for many things, to name a few, my family without them I would be lost.  They support me always I don't know where I'd be without them.   My friends, watching someone pick up and leave can't be easy and I'm very grateful for those of my friends who make an effort to stay in touch with me.  My companions, I can't say I'm always thinking this, but I really am thankful for them.  Together we are all growing on our journey to become Sisters and they help me over come difficulties and challenges that come with this life.  They also point out things I need to work on to become the best version of myself.  I'm thankful for that pile of homework I have to do because it means I have teachers who want me to excel and become better.  I'm thankful for the tears I shed every time I leave my home because that means I am leaving a place where I am loved and accepted.  It means I always have a place I can go to and be welcomed. I'm thankful for the cold because it reminds me how lucky I am to have a warm house to live in and good clothes to keep me warm.

Big picture I'm very blessed.  I'm thankful each of you.  Thank you for being in my life, whatever capacity that may be.  I hope you all have a very safe and blessed Thanksgiving, that you may enjoy lots of good food and the company of your loved ones.  Happy Thanksgiving all!