What I'm Looking & Listening For

"Give thanks to God no matter what circumstances you find yourself in." (1 Thessalonians 5:18a)

Can I be completely honest with you? Canadian Thanksgiving is coming on Monday, and while I am relieved and grateful for a long weekend . . . today I'm not feeling it. Holidays are supposed to bring warm fuzzy feelings, but sometimes we're just too tired or frazzled or upset or sad to get in the spirit.


I'm not all of those things, although I've had a busy couple of weeks with frustratingly long hours of homework. My creative soul feels stifled. My to-do list doesn't seem to be getting any shorter.


But that's just it--thankfulness is not about feelings. In this social media age where all we see are the highlight reels of people's lives, it's easy to think everyone else is so much happier than we are. Yet neither life nor emotions are static; they're constantly changing like the seasons. And the truth is that if I can find reasons to complain, I can find at least as many reasons to rejoice.


To remind myself, here's a brief list. (Perhaps it will remind you, too, of the good things in life.)

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I have a wonderful, fun, supportive family who loves me.

I have friends checking in on me and praying for me.

I get to walk to school each day, enjoying the crisp air of autumn mornings.

I can still make money at my job despite going to school full-time.

There's a stack of good books on my desk almost two feet high, all waiting to be read.

I've been in college only six weeks, and already I understand how to make an income statement, what factors change supply and demand, how to write memos, how to calculate equivalent payments of compound interest, all kinds of things that Microsoft Word can do, and how business is all about creating value for customers.

I have an amazing church that makes every Sunday morning feel like coming home.

I'm healthy.

I have opportunities every day to laugh.

Great movies are a thing.

So is good music, such as:

Reckless Love by Cory Asbury (a long one, but so, so good)

Deeper by SVRCINA (thanks to Katie Grace for introducing me to this singer)

Clap Your Hands by Owl City (it's about golf? but it's really fun)

Something in the Water by Tim Neufeld (this cover never fails to make me happy)

I Need Thee Every Hour by Anthem Lights (their entire Hymns album is so peaceful)

I haven't run out of things to write about, and after a week of no writing, Snow White is waiting for me to pen the next part of her adventure.

I get to connect with faraway friends through the internet and snail mail.

The sun rises.

Seeing the full moon shining over the harvested fields makes me want to shut my car headlights off and stare for a while.

Watercolor pencils are magical.

So is pumpkin pie.

Dreams aren't out of reach--I'm on my way, and you know, the days of small beginnings are actually exciting when I stop and climb to a new vantage point.

It's sweater weather.

Tea. (What else needs to be said about that?)

The blue jays have returned.

Asking customers at work what their plans are for Thanksgiving transforms mediocre small talk into real conversations and real smiles.

Journaling late at night when my brain is tired and filters are down is relaxing.

God is there. Quietly faithful. The same today as He was yesterday. The same as He will be tomorrow.

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Sometimes we need to stop, breathe, and consciously think of all the things we have to be grateful for. And to be completely honest with you again--after writing this list, I feel a lot lighter. Happy Thanksgiving!

What are you thankful for today?

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