Thanksgiving is here! It’s been a crazy couple of months around here and this week will be no different! God has had us busy and He has been filling our calendar days, but one thing is for sure, I am learning to be thankful for the good, and the bad.
When life is busy, we complain about it and then when life is slower paced, we really don’t appreciate it. (Although we don’t see too much slower pacing around here!) Fall has been nonstop crazy and sometimes it seems like we are in a downhill snowball that is picking up pace with every turn! Some days and weeks are just overwhelming!
Over the last few weeks, I have experienced one catastrophe, it seems, after another! In 2 1/2 weeks, we had 3 calves die, tractor tire issues, sickness, vehicle problems and just a bunch of general calamity that is too much to list! At one point I was almost hesitant to leave the driveway because it had been a peaceful day so far and I didn’t want something crazy to happen away from home! What had been happening at home was enough!
But at some point, I just had to get ahold of myself! I took one day to pull out the Christmas decorations and began an attempt to focus my thoughts. It had been so rough, a friend texted and asked at some point how that particular day was going. My response? He’s testing, but I’m still singing! But deep down, I was anything but thankful and there was no holiday spirit. I was feeling quite down to be honest.
I may have cried a few times. I also may have lost it a time or two. When you run to the store and come back home and the keyless entry battery is dead and you can’t get back in the house, it’s cold and you can’t find a house key, you break! But, after some time, I got myself in the house (along with some coaching and consoling from husband) and attempted to pull myself together. I prayed and cried and whined and prayed some more. Then I turned on some music and tried to focus on Him.
I ended up learning to be thankful for the good and the bad.
There is so much bad to point out. It is all around us, the negative. But, this week, and with feeble attempts everyday moving forward, I am finding a way to be thankful for the good and the bad. Because even in the bad things, He is working to my good.
The tractor tire needed to be fixed anyway and when it decided to come off the rim, I was done for the day and it was fixed before I needed it again.
I found the house key. Locked out or not, I know where the key is now and that won’t happen again!
Calf loss on the farm is unfortunate, but it’s part of life. And if these words can work for Job, I guess they are good enough for me. “The Lord gave and The Lord has taken away. Blessed be The Name of The Lord.” We are so blessed and there are calves running everywhere. I am thankful for the good and the bad.
Everything is working to the good of those who are called. I AM CALLED. I HAVE A CALLING. So no matter what, I am thankful. I am thankful for it all, the good and the bad. Why? 1 Thes 5:16-18 says it best, “Rejoice always, Pray continually. Give thanks in ALL circumstances; for this is God’s will for you in Christ Jesus.” Because He holds it all together ! Try as I could, I couldn’t do it. But He does and knowing that makes it all better!
May you and yours find joy and peace this Thanksgiving in every situation and every circumstance, good or bad, knowing that He is in control, and He is holding it all together! Happy Thanksgiving!
