As I sit at my desk in the Family Promise Day House, I am in awe of the quiet. It is amazing how quickly the house can go from chaos (the good kind of chaos with happy, playful children who I love giving my attention to)…to quiet (the good kind of quiet that comes from a single mother who began her full time job and therefore she is working all day and her children are now in preschool). Both are blessings, and I am reminded how each moment is a blessing. How quickly we forget our blessings, or forget to count our blessings.
This month many of us make a conscious effort to be thankful, to give those blessings a name. Thanksgiving is just around the corner, and many of us will have family and friends to sit down and share a large turkey dinner with, have good conversation, and maybe watch some football on the large screen television. All things to count blessings for, right? Absolutely. This Thanksgiving month, let’s also be thankful and count our blessings for everyday gifts – the job we have so we can have our own home, family and friends to call on if we need support, the sunrise on the Kansas horizon, the chill in the air reminding us we live in a climate with all four beautiful seasons.
Let’s also take time to remind someone we are thankful for them. Today I say “thank you” to the single mother working hard to support her children and give them a better life. She is such an inspiration to me through her strength and hope. I also say “thank you” to you (yes you!) as you read this blog. You are probably one of the hundreds of volunteers for Lawrence Family Promise. Without you, our families could not have such strength and hope. Thank You!!