Grateful Friday

I'm having a bit of a time thinking of something to be grateful for this morning, actually.  It's not that I'm not appreciative for all that the LORD has provided for me, it's just that I'm a little down.  We are in the middle of festival season, and well, I wish I could feel a little bit more...celebratory.  Instead, it feels like a swan song.  All things change, people let you down, and the Master moves us along our path.  For His purposes, I'm sure; I am thankful for His guiding hand in my life.

I will be eternally grateful for the tender souls that He has placed in my life that build up; the cheerleaders that not only encourage me, but any they meet in need.  Those special people that are tasked with loving and caring for the hurting.  Compassion is a sweet thing, and I'm thankful for all those that have ministered to me by showing love and concern during difficult times.  (They most certainly know who they are!)

I'm grateful that I have my camera - what a gift!

I'm grateful for my best friend that listens to me bloviate, pontificate, vent and say the most inane things without even batting an eye. She is a saint and I'm so very thankful for her.

I'm thankful that my children are healthy and happy. I'm thankful that I only have a year or two more of female teen years to go. *smile*

I'm thankful for fresh air after a rain. OK, a lot of rain.

I am grateful for dry, sunny weather we enjoyed the first night of Sukkot.  I pray that the festival be joyous and memorable.

I am grateful for the comfort received from reading the words of Paul.

"You, then, why do you judge your brother? Or why do you look down on your brother? For we will all stand before G-d's judgment seat. It is written: 'As surely as I live,' says the Lord, 'every knee will bow before me; every tongue will confess to G-d.' So then, each of us will give an account of himself to G-d. Therefore let us stop passing judgment on one another."

~Paul, Romans 14

Well, as I laid in bed this morning trying to think of what I am grateful for, I was kind of at a loss.  This is such a good exercise for me; I am usually a grateful person, but I'm feeling a little deflated.

Appreciation can make a day - even change a life.
Your willingness to put it into words is all that is necessary.

~Margaret Cousins

I'm grateful for...clearance sales.  I'm grateful for gas prices that are staying, for the most part, under $3/gallon.  I'm not so grateful that every week I see food prices increase, but I am very thankful that we can buy food and that there are grocery stores that have full shelves.

I'm thankful that it is not bitter cold quite yet, and that the rain has abated for a short while.  I'm thankful that there are people that truly care about me and want to spend time with me - I am quite aware that not all people are blessed with that fact. 

And I am thankful for the Bible which somehow has come down through the ages to sit on my shelf, right here next to my computer, and that I can pull it out and read it without reprisal any time I'd like.  I'm thankful for all the people that gave their time, effort, skill, prayer and lives to make that happen.

I'm grateful for the smell of etrogim.  Happy Sukkot!

What are you grateful for this week?