Thanksgiving day

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.