giving thanks......

         We are taught that every day we should give thanks for
all of the great blessings in our lives.  Our health, our food,
our shelter and such.  But what about the small things that we
sometimes take for granted every day in our lives?
         Walking through the grocery store the other day I was
thinking as I picked up a product that was (I thought) a tad
overpriced and dropped it in my cart, how in harder times I
would have resisted the urge to buy such a luxury item.  Don't
get me wrong I live on a fixed income and am far from
'independently wealthy' .  However I am forever thankful that
I can grocery shop without worrying about a couple pennies
here and there.  Sure..I may have a little too much month left
over at the end of the money now and then..but a life time of
being frugal (I hate the word 'tight') has allowed me the luxury
of covering those small oversights.  Many people ,for whatever
reason, don't have that option and I can only imagine the pressure
of trying to provide a meal for ones family on severely limited
funds. 
      I complain all the time about Doctors appointments.  They
cut into my schedule.. break up my day and my routine.  But you
know what?  I'm thankful I am able to get around and get to those
appointments.  Not everyone has that ability.  Perhaps if I listened
a bit more to what I was told at these appointments I could lessen
the frequency of my visits.  But that is unlikely.  But I do give thanks
for the mobility I am granted to be able to make it to these pesky
appointments.
      Something as simple as a smile.  I can't begin to tell you how
many times my spirit has been lifted by a simple smile from a
stranger.  There have been times when i was down and some complete
stranger smiled at me and BOOM.  all is right with the world again.
There have been times when I just wanted to hug the person and tell
them thank you but then we get into that 'Chester the Molester' thing
and I can hardly afford all the bail money    lol
    I am by no means a good Christian.  I have more flaws than the
next twelve souls combined.  I do have, I think, an understanding
with my maker though.  I give thanks each evening,  pray for
guidance each morning and say grace when I remember.  Hopefully
he understands.  Each morning I do include a special reminder or
request if you will, that he guide me through my day and help me
to live in his ways but also to forgive me when I falter.  Because
I know , try as I might , I'm gonna slip!  Some days I slip a lot and
I'm sure we both shake our heads at our evening conversations.  But
as they say.."It is what it is" 
    So As you go through your day be sure to think and give thanks
for the little things in your life that make your every day life
a little more pleasant and bearable.  Not everyone has the option of
looking off into space as they pump gas in their car without watching
the pennies click off or picking up that bag of new Jalapeno M&M's
You've been wanting to try (very good by the way )  or being able
to walk into a doctors office for an appointment.  Let alone take a
walk in the country or woods to enjoy God's beautiful creations.
These are all things we take for granted but need to give thanks for.
Though God has blessed us all he has blessed some of us much more
than others and we need not forget that.   So remember.....

If you see someone without a smile.. give them one of yours.  You
never know what kind of load they're carrying.  Be the one that gives
them something to be thankful for tonight.........