What do we put stock in?

Well, Aaron and I are marking this as our worst Thanksgiving ever and hoping to file it away in the books and move on soon. 

I've cleaned up more than my share of throw-up this week, to say the very least.  I've spent way too much time in the bathroom, to say a little too much.  I lost 6 pounds, saw each family member slowly drop like flies, dealt with an unbearable baby, canceled one thing after another due to sickness, and have now officially spent an entire week cooped up in the house. 

So, no, we won't be eating stuffing today, traveling, seeing family, making turkey shaped goodies, or any of the other festive things one traditionally does today.  I'm not the type of person to be depressed.  I try to keep things in perspective.  But, in all honesty, it would be a lie to say this hadn't been a quite depressing and discouraging week. 

But maybe in situations like this, we need to consider that we shouldn't only be thankful for things and stuff and the All American obsession, FOOD (Oh how I love food).  We all love things and stuff.  But in the end, all of those things will fade away.   

What are we thankful for regardless of our circumstances?
That's a hard one.  I remember mentioning to Aaron that even though we are all really sick and it sucks and blah blah, that at least we are together and at least we are in a warm home being sick. 

But what if you didn't have a family?  Many don't.  And what if you didn't have a home?  Many don't.  Do you truly have nothing to be thankful for? I don't believe so. 

A quite thought-provoking passage in Philippians 4:11-13 of the bible shows the apostle Paul talking...

"..I have learned to be content whatever the circumstances. ¹² I know what it is to be in need, and I know what it is to have plenty. I have learned the secret of being content in any and every situation, whether well fed or hungry, whether living in plenty or in want. ¹³ I can do everything through him who gives me strength."  

We can be content in every situtaion...not because of the stuff that we have, the people who help us, or the money we possess.  But...we can be content because GOD gives us strength to do everything through Him.  Now that's somethign to be thankful for.

Yes, I'm thankful for my things.  I'm thankful for my home.  My husband.  My babies.  My food.  My clothes.  I don't mean to sound rude or ungrateful.  But thankfulness to God goes beyond that.  Christian believers in 3rd world countries don't have a fraction of what we Westerners have and they are more joyful yet. Plenty of people don't have what we have and they're still happy and thankful.  Corrie Ten Boom never married and her life is an amazing testimony of dedication to God. 

So...think deep.  What are you thankful for, regardless of your situation?

I'm thankful for a loving and gracious God who gave me life.
I'm thankful for God's mercy forgiving my sins.
I'm thankful for God's promise of salvation and Heaven that awaits me.  
I'm thankful for the opportunity to live this life.