A Grateful Heart

In preparation for Thanksgiving, our family has been collecting a list of things for which we are thankful. I set a quart jar, a pad of paper, pens and pencils on the corner of the kitchen cabinet with instructions to write down things as we thought of them and put them in the jar. At the end of the day on Thanksgiving, we pulled the slips out of the jar and read them aloud. The jar was full, but we when were finished reading, we still thought of things that we had forgotten to write down. We know that our ungrateful heart takes many things for granted, or we believe we are entitled or that earned others things of our own strength. Consequently, our list is woefully incomplete and we remain in prayer to our Lord to give us a more grateful heart.

The following is our list (in the order they were pulled from the jar):

Our house
Our family
God’s beautiful creation
Books
Abigail
Wonderful friends
Clothing
Shoes
Emma
Moon
Thunderstorms
Heidi
The McCoys
Sean
Rain
Weddings
Peyton
Water
Freezer meals
Mama
Grandparents
Nick
Daddy
The Blakes
Our nation’s heritage
Our fireplace
Animals
Lori’s trust
Knitting
Arms, legs, fingers and toes
Nurses
The Bible
The Bennett family
The Ragan family
Sewing machines
Home-made peanut butter
Food
Cats
Cookouts
Vision Forum
Being greeted enthusiastically when I get home
Home-made bread
Being homeschooled
Discipline
Christian brothers at work
Scrapbooking
Sense of feel
God’s provision
4^th of July fireworks
Salvation
Christmas
The Eastons
Our home and land
Computers
Grandpa Cody
Digital and video cameras
Grandma Cody
Honey bees
Martin Luther
The four seasons
God’s design for mother and baby
Morgan
Living in a free country
Fall colors
Snow
Our creek
John Calvin
Family traditions
Freedom to homeschool
Tools
Music
The peace that passeth understanding
Work and chores that help the family
Fresh milk
The Schenk family
The book mobile
Cars
Home business
Movies
Sisters
Our garden
Money
Wal-Mart
Popcorn
Hugs
Doctors
My children’s confidence
Jonathan Park CDs
Our glorious hope
Our chickens
The Mollohans
Contact lenses
Dishwashers
Grape jam
The Duggar family
Marshmallows
China One buffet
My husband, David
My job
Our homeschool group
Games, toys and playthings
Soap
My beautiful wife, Lori
Brothers
The Schrock family
The US Navy
Life
Washers and dryers
Pizza
Mountains
Stars
Medicine
Insurance
The Fry family
Parents
Meghan
Electricity
Nick
Our cuckoo clock
Sewing
David’s wisdom
Toyota
Hot fudge
Sense of smell
Flowers
Lori’s submissive and helpmeet attitude
The Sheets family
Forgiveness and grace
That food tastes good
Climbing hay bales
Trees
Mud boots
Thanksgiving
Baskin Robbins
The Myers family
4 wheel drive
DVDs
All the neat stuff in Grandpa’s basement
The US Marine Corps
Sense of sight
Hibachi restaurant
Lawnmowers
Lemonade
Lori’s gentle and quiet spirit
Freezers
Hospitals
Our memories
Sense of taste
Easter
The internet
My wife’s support
Neighbors
Clouds
Sense of hearing
Shower
My wife’s counsel
Coldstone creamery
Police officers
Refrigerators
Father/Son time together
David’s leadership
Hand-me-downs
Sunshine
David’s passion for spiritual knowledge
The Park family
Our warm and cozy bed
Grandpa Alderson
Telephones
Reading time with my family
Colors
Vacation
Bathtub
Sunny days
CHEO
Grandma Alderson
Father/Daughter retreat
The people in the NICU that helped Abigail
Daddy’s Boy Scout knowledge
Pancakes
Crafts
Science book and math book
Health
Vacuum cleaner
Musical instruments
Pain (a warning sign)
My bike and scooter
Christ
My mama’s pharmacist’s knowledge
The Tipple family
Eyeglasses
iPod
God
Pictures
Tractors and brush hog
Sacrifice of our veterans
Seatbelts
Hairbrushes
The Nolt family
The library
The US Air Force
Cupcakes
The zoo
The Amish bakery
TCBY
Giovanni’s
The Rhodes family
Climbing trees
Adventuring
Willow Tree angels
Soda
Chocolate milk
Lemon pie
Hand lotion
Flannel
Playing outside
Fresh eggs
Butterflies
Snacks
Sitting on the front porch
Firemen
Blankets and pillows
Naps
Mommy and Daddy’s love for each other
Visiting friends and family
Mouthwash
Clothesline
Grass
Cool breezes on hot summer days
The sky
Daddy’s blog
The US Army
Aldi