Thanksgiving has always been one of my favorite holidays. I love being around my family and friends and reflecting on all the blessings in life. Oh and who doesn’t love good a reason to eat a lot of food too. I think one of my favorite reasons why I love Thanksgiving is because it is a time where most people set aside their busy schedules and reflect on things they are thankful for. In this society, we tend to focus on our busy schedules. I often find myself angry about the crazy driving in front of me on the freeway instead of being thankful about the extra time I have to spend thanking the Lord as I make my way to work or inpatient with the barista at Starbucks as she tries to strike up a conversation with me as I wait for my much-needed coffee.
For the first time in many years, I spent this Thanksgiving away from my family. I won’t lie, it was hard and I hope I will be able to spend the rest of my thanksgiving holidays with my family. I knew I when I choose my career that I would face the possibility of working over the holidays. Throughout this week I have tried to focus on the little blessings of life that I often miss because I am hurrying through life. The many patients (many of whom are facing battles of chronic illnesses) and families who thanked the nurses and doctors taking care of them instead of spending the holiday with their families.The police officers who helped direct traffic and kept the community safe as thousands of people gathered to run the turkey trot in Houston. The checkout clerk in Target who wished me a “Happy Thanksgiving” with such joy as she spent her holiday working. Or the elderly lady who had almost nothing, but prayed for me as I gave her a warm meal in the homeless shelter. Such small things, but such sweet blessings of life.
This year there are so many things to be thankful for…
I am thankful for my family and that in the midst of sickness, there is a true Healer who is in ultimate control. Just last week my dad found out his brain tumor is growing (again). At first I was angry, angry that this is happening again, but “God is good all the time and all the time God is good." I am thankful that my dad has the option to do radiation and that the treatment is supposed to be super effective. I am thankful for a team of doctors who are already taking such good care of my dad. I am thankful for his strength, courage, and faith in the Lord during this time and in his famous words “ this is just another bump in the road.” I am also thankful for my mother and her willingness to serve others. I have watched her love and care for my grandmother in so many ways this past year. And she always does it with a smile and happy heart. Oh, if I could love and serve one day like her.
I am thankful for my job and the opportunity I have to serve patients and families during some of the most difficult times of their lives. What joy it is to see families grow closer together and find strength in the Lord during difficult times. God’s blessings are seen in so many ways, from the smile that a child has after walking a mile 1-week post lung transplant to the hi-five that another kiddo gives to the nurse as the kiddo checks their blood sugar for the first time. What a true joy to love on and serve patients and families of all walks of life.
I am thankful for my coworkers and friends. Life is so much easier when you have support, encouragement, and love throughout the journey. I have been blessed by some amazing coworkers who have become some of my dearest friends. I am so thankful for them, their love for others, and their love for the Lord. What a huge encouragement they have been to me this year… I cannot wait to see what is in store in the next year.
Most importantly, I am thankful that centuries ago Jesus died that painful death for my sins...My. many. sins. Even when we are running so far from the Lord, He is running after us with open arms. Even when we our turning our eyes away from Him, He loves us… He loves us the same yesterday, today, tomorrow, and 100 years from now.
“Every good gift and every perfect gift is from above, coming down from the Father of lights with whom there is no variation or shadow due to change.” - James 1:17
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