I'm Thankful ---

1.) Today I'm grateful for better health. It has been one week now since I've had one of those dreadful headaches. Along with that I have been experiencing renewed physical strength, which had deteriorated drastically at times. I went about six weeks without working in The Little Wood Shop. However in the last week I have been able to be out there every day. I'm very grateful for that. I also have been driving our van again, mostly locally, but today went to Newton by myself. That felt good for a change. I don't know what is responsible for all of this but I'm just rejoicing and thankful that better health has come to me.

2.) I'm thankful that some experiences I've had in the past allow me to help someone now. I received a phone call today from a friend who needed help in figuring out how to operate a new gift he had received, so he brought it over. Why can't the manufacturers put nomenclature that will actually show you which button to push to operate their product? Anyway, we finally figured it all out and my friend went on his way.

3.) I'm thankful for the little Chinese date tree in our yard. That's right, a date tree. It (or a seed) was brought here from India by a college prof many years ago. There are two of them in our town. A Chinese college student became so excited a few years ago when in passing by she discovered that tree. She exclaimed, "Chinese date tree" several times. Another friend of ours who grew up in India said that there they call them jujube trees. This year the tree was once again loaded with fruit, to which a number of neighbors have been helping themselves. We like them best candied. Want to come over for some? There are plenty to go around!

When things are going well its easy to be thankful for something. I've often thought though about how hard it is to be thankful when one isn't feeling good, or when life brings some unpleasant experiences. The words of Scripture apply here when it says simply, "in everything give thanks." Not that we're thankful for everything, but that in everything we can find something to be thankful for. I want to be able to do that better. How about you?

Pilgrim on the way