thankful heart

veggie tales quote: 'a thankful heart is a happy heart.'
i've been singing that song in my head all week. and its done me good. there is so much wisdom in that little sentence. our views on our lives, our views on our troubles-we can be joyful about it when we are thankful about it.

i feel like this thanksgiving i am more thankful-truly thankful than i have been in a long time. i say 'truly' thankful because i think its easy to be thankful when things are easy. and for most of my life, things have been easy. they still are, relatively speaking, but this semester was a hard one.
i climbed mountains within myself that i didnt know existed. i struggled with life and the everyday tasks before me more than i thought possible. and i experienced emotions (fear, anxiety, sadness) to a depth which i hope i never have to face again. BUT i have also experienced tenderness, community, & faithfulness in a way i hope to enjoy again.
and through this hard season i literally felt God popped his head up in circumstances to remind me "youre not alone and i know exactly what youre going through and there is a reason for it." sometimes its easier to deal with things if we know there is a reason for it. i know i am stronger person for this season of struggle and that makes a huge difference.
i also experienced the love of a husband that laid down his life for me everyday. who faithfully took care of kids when i couldn't, who spent hours every night talking and talking and talking (not a husbands perfect evening!), and who tenderly walked me through the hardest season of my life. for that, i am oh so thankful.

so i'm thankful. i'm thankful for times of darkness which brings sharper vision and clarity. for friends and family that faithfully listen and talk. for my husband and children which bring upspeakable joy. and for God who patiently loves his children and never leaves us just the way we are.