Thankfully DONE!

30 days, 30 posts, 30 days of thankfulness, finally complete! There were days it almost didn't happen, maybe days I just should have let pass by post-less, a lot of lack of inspiration, but all in all I'm glad I did it. Not so much because blogging is a worthy goal, but because a heart of thankfulness is, and hopefully this has developed a little more of that in me. My daily blogging is done, but I pray that a habit of gratitude is just beginning.

Today on this last day of specifically blogging on the subject, I'm grateful that I have Someone to Whom to direct my thanks. It's always a little strange to me this time of year when everyone seems to be thankful to no one in particular. Fate, perhaps? Their own good luck or choices? Few stop to consider that the gifts they enjoy are just that: gifts from a Creator to His creation. A verse I memorized in childhood that will forever stick with me is James 1: 17 which states "Every good thing given and every perfect gift is from above, coming down from the Father of lights." Every day is a gift I don't deserve. My sin has earned me death, but through the sacrifice of Jesus Christ on the cross, I can enjoy eternal life with Him (Romans 6:23). I don't deserve to breath, let alone enjoy things like family, a beautiful home, Diet Coke, aspirin, and hard work, to name a few. But my gracious God continues to give me gift after gift. When I then come across verses like Psalm 118:1 - "Give thanks to the LORD for He is good," and Colossians 3:17 - "Whatever you do in word or deed, do all in the name of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks through Him to God the Father," the logical response would be... "duh." But unfortunately all too often I start to think of God's gifts as rights, or just take them for granted. I neglect to thank Him for all He is, all He's done, and all He continues to do for me. Even worse, I sometimes forget about the Giver all together, being so focused on the gifts. So my hope through all of this is that I will regularly recognize the many blessing in my life for what they are, and direct thanks back to God in a way that would bring great glory to Him.

Thanks for reading and bearing with me through 3o whole days! I'll be back... but probably not tomorrow!