When we think of thanksgiving day we envision ourselves
sitting in front of the dinner table with a large turkey,loved ones and for us
women- shopping sprees.For me I didn't even want anyone near my mother because
I waited for her to give me the right leg of the turkey.That's how much I love
turkey.I no longer wait for the 4th sunday or 25th of November to celebrate
Thanksgiving day.
August 15th 1984,a woman by the name of Lorette gave birth
to a beautiful little girl. Now before this came into a reality, I must give
you a background of the forces that came against this life. First of all,this
young unwed mother was only 17 years old,just graduated from high school and
the man she dated was twice her age.To her dismay while being away from home,
she was offered a scholarship to attend any college in the U.S. of her choice
to obtain her bachelors degree.Which meant that this woman had to make a
choice- free education or become a young mother.
ThIS woman chose to have the child and turned down the
scholarship.I know people told her, and maybe even you who are reading this are
saying she was crazy for not taking the scholarship and have the baby.If that
woman decided to take the scholarship I would NOT have been here breathing
today.The pressure was so intense especially from loved ones that she was going
to have an abortion, but something in her said NO.That something I believe was
God.There even came a point where the house my mom lived in caught on fire and
she was sound asleep.This incident happened on two different occasions.So there
was purpose behind what happened.What the devil meant for evil was turned
around for my good.
So waiting for November to come to be thankful is too long.
As I celebrated my 23rd birthday on yesterday I woke up all cried out because I
remembered where I came from and my family's struggle. Sometimes we believe
that we need to receive big things in life to be thankful, but if we are
grateful in the little things and begin to tell God how grateful we are, then
He will bless us with the big things. The bible tell us in Psalms 100 that we
should"enter His gates with thanksgiving and enter His courts with praise
and bless His name for the Lord is good.....". This is being not only
thankful for some things but IN and for all things.
There are days when I feel that my life is jacked up,but
when I calm down and collect myself, I realize that my blessings outweigh the
bad.I thank God for the gift of the Holy Spirit who comes to bring conviction
and bring my mind subject to God's will. And His will is for me is to
appreciate all I have been through.I don't have a Christmas list ,but I do have
a thanksgiving list.
I am so thankful:
1.That my mother did not have an abortion and that she
sacrificed her future for me.
2.I no longer to go to
bed hungry because I can work and support myself.
3.I live in a home
with no rent and don't have to lie to the landlord because there was no way for
my family to pay the rent.
4.That I was only
molested because I could have been raped.This was heavy for me to type.
5.I have clothes and
shoes in my closet compared to the three pairs I had growing up.
6.I dont have to
borrow money to purchase my mother's medicine
7.I am not dating men
who that use and abuses me anymore.
8.I broke the curse
of having bastard kids in my family prior to marriage.
9.My college tuition
is paid for and I have a chance to advance myself.
10.I have a car
instead of standing on the bus stop, few months ago getting wet by cars in the
pouring rain waiting for the next bus.
11.I have full use of
all my limbs and I am not hospitalized
12.I dont have a
sexually transmitted disease or dying of AIDS.
13.That God extended
His grace toward me and keeps giving me another chance at life!!!
The list could go on and on.I encourage you to create your
own list.No matter how dim your situation may be right now,I am guaranteed that
there is something that you can be grateful for right now.I do act foolish and
complain about what I dont have,but tonight I realize I have so much. It is
only in being grateful for the little things that I am now seeing blessings are
reigning down.Wanna see a change in your attitude and atmosphere? Then be
grateful everyday for just one thing and watch God elevate you.
