Generosity and gratefulness

Late last summer, I told wise woman, actually several wise women, that I wanted to be more thankful. Not in a flippant sort way, but really being intentional to name these things aloud. Thanksgiving changes your perspective. Period. There is nothing like naming just a few of your blessings aloud to remind you that God has been unnecessarily good to me. So I put up a poster board on my wall and started writing down things I was thankful for and prayed that the Lord would help me. I was incredibly blessed and encouraged by a friend telling me in April that an attitude of thankfulness was something she really noticed in me. I continue to pray that this goes beyond an attitude into a lifestyle.

Today I am so thankful for the generosity of my friends and community. I'm astounded that so many of them once again came out and help me work on my house. They ripped up carpets, cleaned out some of the plaster and lathe so dry wall can be put up. They painted walls, built closets, taped, primes, pulled up tacks, endured lots and lots of dust, put in new electrical outlets, and lots and lots of other things. They were there for hours on a beautiful Saturday, working hard, and there were many more who were not there, but who have encouraged me and offered advice and lent tools, and prayed and prayed and prayed. They have given me gifts, and listened to my fears; let me vent and laughed with me. Tools have been lent, lessons taught. Generosity is actually much too weak of a word to describe how wonderfully free with their time, skills, etc. these incredible people are.

It's made this journey a lot less lonely and scary. They are the tangible body of Christ who is standing with me in this craziness. And I could not be more grateful. I never could have imagined that this is where life would take me, and that's the joy in all of this, but man am I thankful as well for a Father who has 20-20 vision and guided me safely here. He is so good.