Monday, November 19, 2007

Things I'm Thankful for Part One

It's that time of year. A time to stop and remember things we are grateful for that have occurred in the last year. This week, I'm going to highlight just a few of the things that I am thankful for. I'd love to hear what you're grateful for, too.

On Wednesdays nights I lead a Ladies’ Bible Study at church. Right now we’re discussing Get Out of that Pit by Beth Moore (great book, by the way!). There’s a fantastic group of women who participate in the study, and I love the intense and vulnerable discussions we have.

As I was sitting there last week, I had to smile. You wouldn’t believe how many times someone would give an illustration for a point and it would include an antidote about kids.

Now this is a room full of mothers – of all ages. Some of us have young kids, some of us are grandmas. Some of us are just now looking at an empty nest. But I think all of us have at least one child.

And frequently when we’re discussing what God does with us – especially related to His loving discipline, we’ll start by saying something like, “now think about what you do with your kids…”

I’m probably the worst offender. As the leader I get to kick off discussions, pull the comments others make into the framework, and keep things moving. So often, I’ll use me as an example. And if I love my kids enough to allow them to experience the consequences of some of their decisions or to yank them back from the edge of danger, how much more God does.

So I am thankful for several things:
  • A God who loves me relentlessly.
  • A God who loves me too much to allow me to stay the way I am, but will always push me to be more like His Son.
  • A God who has placed me in a community of women who chase after Him.
  • A community of women who ask the hard questions and challenge each other as we seek God.
  • Children who remind me, often by the moment, of the great love my heavenly Father has for me.
  • Children who demonstrate how I should live...with qualities of childlike faith and childlike joy.
  • And children who add a richness to my life that I frankly can't imagine my life without them.
So how have your kids revealed part of God’s nature and character to you lately?

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