A Magnolia's Heart Beats

Thanksgiving - Thankful Thursday

“And above all these put on love, which binds everything together in perfect harmony. And let the peace of Christ rule in your hearts, to which indeed you were called in one body. And be thankful.”~ Colossians 3:14-15 (ESV ~ emphasis Iris')

Did you know that the Greek word for thankful used in this verse is eucharistos, which means:

1) mindful of favours, grateful, thankful
2) pleasing, agreeable
3) acceptable to others, winning, liberal, beneficent

This has been an exteremely thankful week for me! I'm mindful of the favors I have received from God, so grateful and thankful. I have adopted a pleasing and agreeable attitude regarding my blessings and have tried to be beneficient to others in passing my blessings on. I do fall short sometimes, but I'm growing!

We spent a wonderful time with family this Thanksgiving. It was a different sort of Thanksgiving than we usually have. There were only 5 of us for lunch - Steve and me, Momma, Maw Maw and Melanie, my aunt. None of her children could come, but will be here for Christmas.

After lunch we got out some photo albums and looked through them. Oh, the memories! For all of us except my grandmother, bless her heart! She has Alzheimer's. She kind of remembered my grandfather when she saw a picture of him in uniform (he was a Highway Patrolman). That flicker of recognition was awesome, ya'll! Later in the evening, we learned that she talks about him often, but thinks he doesn't know where she is. The staff assures her he does and she's okay with that. He died over 20 years ago.

Jimmy & Susan, my uncle and aunt, came over later in the afternoon with their two sweet boys, James and John. The twins just turned 8. They were super-excited, as they had just returned from Disneyworld a few days before. There was so much to tell and they enjoyed playing with the kids next door who came over.

The food was great, the time spent with family was just something I soaked up, and I took time out on the back porch to count my blessings and send praises up to God for His bounty. Sometimes I have what I call "lovebursts". My heart just wants to explode, I feel so blessed and highly favored! I'll tell myself it's undeserved and I'm unworthy and I'm reminded by the gentle whisper of the Holy Spirit that Christ died to make me worthy and deserving.

If you read yesterday's post, you know that we also got some difficult news this week. My uncle's cancer is back. He has malignant melanoma in his brain. We knew that less than two years ago, when it returned after a 20 + year absence, about 3% survive at least 5 years. We are praying Jimmy survives much longer than that. God has been so good in providing great doctors who stay on top of this with many scans a year. They seem to catch things in time and early enough to where it works out just right. I know God is guiding them. I am so thankful for my uncle, for the many many lives he has touched as he's taught and assisted in coaching through the years, and the witness he is for God. Jimmy is a strong man of faith and is so optimistic and trusting. He is one of my earthly heroes. Again, who am I for the privelege of knowing him and having him for an uncle?

I remain mindful of the favors I have received from God, so grateful and thankful, and am keeping a pleasing attitude despite obstacles of illness for myself (I'm battling a fibro flare-up due to weather change) and others, and I'm also praising God that one day there will be no more sickness for any of us. I am really looking forward to His return and am so thankful He won't leave us on this earth forever.

"And I heard a loud voice from the throne saying, "Now the dwelling of God is with men, and he will live with them. They will be his people, and God himself will be with them and be their God. He will wipe every tear from their eyes. There will be no more death or mourning or crying or pain, for the old order of things has passed away." He who was seated on the throne said, "I am making everything new!" Then he said, "Write this down, for these words are trustworthy and true." ~ Revelation 21:3-5 (NIV)

What are *you* thankful for this Thursday? Join us by visiting hostess Iris at Grace Alone... for more Thankful Thursdays.