This time of year...

I was dining and chatting with a few new friends and few old friends this past Saturday. The main topic turned to (of course) what we are thankful for. Naturally, my mind started spinning and I was coming up with very simplistic things. Considering I'm a fairly simple girl, I wasn't surprised. But I felt like I had to dig deeper. Life shows us that simple things aren't all that simple. So, what am I truly, deep-down, bottom of the soul grateful for?

Let's start simply:

I'm blessed with an amazing family. Supportive, goofy, easy, loving.
I have a stable job, an affordable roof over my head, and food on my table.
I want for nothing.

Little deeper now:

I'm thankfully for an intense past two years. With almost everything being so easy for me, I thought I would have no problem getting a job, finding housing, finding a church, making a new life in Roch. I knew my relationship with God could always go a bit deeper, but I didn't realize just how deep I was supposed to go.

Deep as I can share:

I'm thankful for a city that has absolutely broken me. For a place that didn't just let me slide in, set up a quick-easy life, and continue my fun. This place, these people aren't letting me slide through life. I'm being challenged nearly daily to keep my heart open. The walls of my heart were broken and this town isn't letting me build them back up. Painful at times, but the joy is... peaceful, strong, light, life... I am very thankful for this - a community, a family, a God that never leaves.

Amen and Amen. Go Deep.
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