It's been another dreary day here in the fair city of Lawrence. The only thing able to cut through the down in the dumps kind of weather is the Christmas lights that so beautifully adorn every tree on Massachusetts Street from 6th St. to 11th St. Like John wrote in the first chapter of his Gospel - "The light shines in the darkness and the darkness did not overcome it." That is true on so many levels, spiritual and otherwise...but mostly spiritual.
As I sit in my office this morning and watch the rain fall outside my window, I have taken inspiration from two of my friends for a reflection. So thanks, Maggie and Kendra!
I've decided to do what I can to make this dreary day a cheery day by making a list of things that I am thankful for (in no particular order):
1) Biological family - I am thankful for the family that gave me birth, raised me and has been so willing to walk with me on all my adventures...or misadventures, as the case may be. I am grateful for the love they've shown me, even though I may not have gotten it at the time (working with youth helps shed some light on this, helps you look at things from a different perspective).
2) Chris - I am so grateful that my husband was so persistent in his quest to make me his bride. I am a better person because of him and I am the happiest woman in the world to have him by my side for the rest of my life for all the adventures that await us. He also makes some pretty amazing chocolate cake.
3) Church family - While I write this, the smells of the monthly workday feast are floating down the hallway, reminding me of how lucky I am to be a part of a church family that comes together so often for some of the best food I've ever had (though, my waistline has something to say about that, too). They're also pretty cool people, too.
4) Abba - Abba saved my life in Oklahoma. Not that I was in any danger of anything, but she put an end to the loneliness of internship. She is the nuttiest dog I have owned and the worst mouse hunter ever, but she's one heck of a funny creature.
5) The Kiefer clan - It's so cool to know that I now have some amazing family around the country, from Chicago to Alaska and beyond. I am grateful to have been so warmly welcomed into the family.
6) Friends - I don't know if I've ever said this out loud, but I have some of the most amazing friends in the entire world. And they're everywhere! Oklahoma, Kansas, Ohio, Minnesota, Wisconsin, California, Michigan, etc, etc, etc. I'm grateful to Facebook the ability to stay connected.
7) My faith - I don't know where I would be right now if I hadn't come out of the faith crisis I had in college. I certainly wouldn't be here in Kansas serving God's people, that's for sure. So I am thankful every day that God found me at just the right time and in the right place (God's really good at that) and that God turned my life upside down and put me on a better path than the one I was on. This is what I am most thankful for.
As Maggie said, it's not the places or the things, it's the people that make life so special (remember, dogs are people too)
And, what do you know, it's time for the workday feast! My favorite day of the month...and it will be followed up by some communion visits this afternoon, then the advent fellowship meal and evening prayer. What a great day!
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