Thank You God, For Everything

Sea Breezes
Thank you for the world so sweet;
Thank you for the food we eat.
Thank you for the birds that sing;
Thank you God, for everything.

That was my favorite blessing to say as a child. Now that I am no longer a child, I still cherish that little blessing. This past Thanksgiving brought all ten children to our home, again. What have we done to deserve ten children? What have we given to the world to deserve ten children? What have the two of us in our ordinary lives, full of mistakes and sin, ever done to deserve ten children? All we did was fall in love and get married. Life has brought much joy to us and also heartache at times. We haven't always appreciated the joy and haven't always done so great with the heartaches. We probably have hurt some of the ten children in many ways. What in this world have we done to deserve ten children? The answer is nothing. Not one thing. That is why I am most thankful for the little people in the picture and all the people who produced them, and the one who isn't married yet. You see, our ten children are gifts from our Lord who loves us beyond our understanding. We have done nothing to deserve our ten children, but yet He gives us these gifts. We have done nothing to deserve His grace and love, yet He gives us these gifts. Perhaps that is the meaning of thankfulness. To be thankful is to be undeserving of a precious gift. A gift is an expression of love. Advent means preparation. This Advent, we are getting ready in our family to celebrate The Nativity of Our Lord. I am thankful for our ten children. I am thankful for the Christ Child who is coming again soon, in our hearts and in our lives. May you and yours have a Blessed Advent.
Thank you God, for everything.