Thanksgiving in January

I am sitting in the office, after just having been on the porch drinking in a lovely sunset in the lovely temperatures out-o'-doors. We are so blessed! I think of the small trials we had today: dead batteries, low tires, etc. Then I think of the people in Haiti, of the sick in the hospitals, even Miss Zara over on the Christian Maidens blog who is having considerable health troubles of her own. I am so very glad that we can intercede with prayer for each-other. I just finished a wonderful book called "Glory, Duty, and the Gold Dome" by T. Nathaniel Darnell. It put me in mind of yet another blessing: the ability to be a part of our nation's government. I think of the blessing of having sunshine to dry the clothes, and the blessing of a new dryer that sits in the laundry room having a day-off because of the sunshine and breeze. I think of the greatness of God Almighty in noticing me and calling my attention to the masterpiece He had painted over the Western horizon. I think of the love in my family, of chubby 3 year olds to kiss, of silly 15 year old sisters to make fun with, of a piano to plink out parts for choir with, of the gift of sight and hearing, of ankles that remain unsprained although I have twisted them 4 times since Saturday, of three fine, noble, godly men coming home this moment from a day of hard work, of chickens that give us eggs, and a La Mancha goat that gives us something to laugh at, of the promise of Spring, and flower-seed catalogs to inspire us with more plans for this year, of the mail-lady who must be the disappointment of me when she brings only bills, but who I would gladly hug when she brings me a letter, of friends who have been hospitable to us, addicted us to their pizza, and who gave me the recipe so I could make it for dinner tonight, of herbs to make into healing things, and so many, many more blessings. I have just been struck with these sorts of things today, and standing on the porch enveloped in the peace of a perfectly beautiful evening, the most fitting words flooded my mind. I dared not sing them, since my voice is still croaky, but I said them mentally, and thanked God for his abundant blessings.

"O Lord my God, when I in awesome wonder
Consider all the works Thy hands have made,
I see the stars, I hear the rolling thunder
Thy power throughout the universe displayed
Then sings my soul, my Savior God to Thee,
How great Thou art, how great Thou art,
Then sings my soul, my Savior God to Thee,
How great Thou art, how great Thou art."

-Rachel