For These Things, I am Thankful

We give thanks one day each year, but should we not be thankful each and every day of our lives? Scripture tells us, "In everything give thanks" and I wonder, what does this mean? Should I be thankful that my dear friend is dying? Or that my aunt and my father-in-law are suffering from Alzheimer's disease? What about being thankful for the war which led my son to join the Army and has him now serving in Iraq? How can I be thankful for the physical pain I feel each and every day?

Having recently read books about the Amish people and their faith in God, I have learned that accepting all things as being from God changes the way in which I view life and its events. When I no longer question Him but accept everything as "His will" and "His way", I become part of the process of living my life with trust in a loving Father who wants the best for me. It is no longer a matter of "why" but of "gratitude". I am thankful the friendship LeeAnne and I have shared. I am grateful for Judy who cares for my father-in-law. I am thankful that my aunt remembers the words from hymns she learned as a child and that this comforts her. I am proud of my son and when pain awakens me during the night, I take that time to pray for my son and others who come to mind.

I have much for which I am thankful - the autumn leaves, sunshine after rain, dishes to wash after a delicious meal - and I am learning to trust more and fret less as I give thanks for those things that I once saw as "negatives" in my life.