Thankful Tree

     When I was a little girl my Mom would help me make a "thankful tree" every year for Thanksgiving. I would simply draw a big tree on poster board then cut out construction paper leaves. Throughout the month I would write what I was thankful for on the leaves then glue them to the tree. Some years I remember making a family tree where everyone hung their blessings on one tree together. I used to love looking at what everyone was thankful for. Now I enjoy reading friends and family's post on Facebook as they write a daily gratitude for the month of November. Its always nice to be reminded of just how blessed we are and just how blessed our friends and family are. 

     I would love to look back at my old trees, but they were probably lost with the flood if they were still around my parents house. I would love to see what I was thankful for at different ages. I think our level of gratitude and our priorities change so much as we grow and mature. I'm sure I had the basics, like family, food, house, God, clothing, etc, but it would still be fun to look back at that and maybe compare the things that my children now list.

     Thinking about those old crafts got me to thinking about what I would make now. What would my leaves show that I thank God for. Wow, I would put entirely too much thought into each leaf. Something like that could drive me crazy now days. What exactly am I grateful for? It's hard to pinpoint a set number of things. You worry about leaving someone out or forgetting something that God has so blessed you with. Tough stuff seeing as we are blessed beyond measure. I guess I would still have my basic friends, family, and food leaves, but I know I must have matured beyond that. What am I truly thankful for...there's just so much. As I ponder it I can begin to imagine what my tree may look like now. It may have larger leaves with much bigger explanations on it. Instead of one word blessing I think I now have stories of blessings and memories that I am so grateful for. 

     I guess I have came to realize that it's the experiences that I am thankful for. It's the love and laughter shared with my family. It's the friendships that have came and went throughout the years and taught me so much, and the lifelong bonds that have came along with a few of those. It's the moments of true Joy and the heartaches that have forced me to grow. It's the family dance parties and the long hugs when heartache is present. It's sweet little girl kisses on cold mornings and long talks with my big boy at bedtime. It's the craziness of Christmas decorating with my husband and the support and love I feel from him everyday. It's the moments of worship where I feel like God smiles at me, and the quiet prayers when I know he hears. Its life, it's everyday, it's wonderful...and for that I am thankful.