Giving Thanks…

Nutcracker 2016

I can’t believe that another year has come and gone and yet here we sit at the end of 2016. There is so much to be thankful for, so many ways that we have been taken care of and provided for. Yes there has been loss and things have happened that I do not quite understand but even in the midst of this there has been grace and for that I am thankful.

An unexpected visit with my Melissa from Florida!!

I was struck the other day by a word. A word that has great significance, meaning and power. A word that picks you up off the floor and gives you the strength to live another day. This word is a reminder of your worth and your purpose here on this earth. It’s a word that I am going to tuck into my heart and repeat it to myself over and over again until the day arrives that I never again doubt my worthiness or how much I am loved. This word is chosen.

For he chose us in him before the creation of the world…. Ephesians 1:4

 

You did not choose me but I chose you and appointed you to go and bear fruit… John 15:16

 

… because from the beginning God chose you to be saved through the sanctifying work of the Spirit… 2 Thessalonians 2:13

 

But you are a chosen people, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, a people belonging to God, that you may declare the praises of him who called you out of darkness into his wonderful light. 1 Peter 2:9

Think about this for a moment. Chosen. Elected. Selected. A choice is not something that happens by default. It is a conscious decision. God sees and knows all about me and all about you and he still chose us! I look at my life and the decisions I make on a daily basis and have no clue why God would still choose me. But when I was reminded of this the other day it made me want to come up with a way to keep it at the forefront of my mind. Because being chosen means there is a plan, it means there is a purpose and I haven’t screwed up so badly that I am unwanted. Acknowledging the decision doesn’t make life any easier or make all of the hard stuff go away but understanding the act of choosing makes me stand a little taller and want to be worthy of the decision that was made.

Nat – 1st performance on pointe. Nutcracker 2016 – Waltz of the Flowers

This week we are attending a memorial service for Mr. Wonderful’s mom, our home has been decorated for Christmas for several weeks as I knew the end of November was going to be crazy and I wanted to be ready for my final surgery at the beginning of December. All of the gifts have been purchased and are waiting to be wrapped and put under the tree that we will get on the 1st weekend of December. I am hoping to spend the month hanging with my family and soak up the reality of the baby that chose to come to earth to save us all.

Happy Thanksgiving My Friends!!