Happy Canadian Thanksgiving!

Fall comes early to us here "up north" Strong and Free. I spent a few glorious days at the local organic farm helping out the harvest before the frost hit. And indeed, it did in the middle of my helping stint.

So, as we celebrate the bounty and the Giver of all good things, I thought I do a list of things I'm grateful for. Count your blessings is always a good thing. (I also love the hymn.)

1. Friendships

I'm so blessed to have friends who will talk with me direct with no guise. Speaking truth in love whether I'm being a pill or a good friend isn't the easy thing to do. I know - believe me. But the fact that they choose to do that and value our friendship so much to risk it in order to keep it healthy, makes them the BEST. Love you guys!


2. My hubby

I'm SO grateful that he is my mate. Obviously he is NOT perfect human being, but I can see that he is perfect for me. With all your faults, I love you!


3. Family

I've got great inlaws. Can't complain at all. I still miss my father in law. I'm blessed with two great kids. I'm blessed with my own family where I come from where their love in genuine.

I'm also grateful for the family of God. Those that God brought into my life to fill in some place my natural ones couldn't. It fills me up with gratitude that God cares so much to do that. Family was designed to be the wholesome place for His creation. Yet, in this fallen world, so much goes awry and corrupted especially in family. His provision in the church for the healing of this particular, has really changed my life. I could go on and on, but I'll go into "church" more later.


4. God

Words cannot describe my gratefulness to Him. Though I sometimes forget and act as though He isn't the most important person in my life, I'm grateful that He knows my frailty and yet continues to see me with love. All because of what Jesus has done. He sees me through Jesus and calls me His friend.

I'm grateful for who He is; the vastness of His love, the unquenchable zeal He has towards us, the incredible amount of His mercy... and the fact that He is always even better than what you ever dreamt Him of being. AND that He never changes! I can go on and on. Knowing Him has been the chief pleasure in my life.


5. Heritage

Because of my upbringing, I kind of had a love/hate relationship with my heritage all through the years of growing up. But now that I'm somewhat all grown up, I can truly appreciate both sides of my heritage: the Japanese and the Argentine. More so the Japanese, probably, because I know more. But I'm grateful to both my parents for making the effort (and effort it is!) to making both a part of my life from early on.

I'm grateful for the Japanese tenacity, neatness, appreciation of the simple things in life and love of beauty. I'm grateful for the Argentine love of company, easy-going relaxed attitude (though sometimes to a fault), and their open arm embracing welcoming nature. So much of both is who I am, and I'm grateful for the chance of knowing both sides so intimately.


6. Canada

My adopted country where I am no longer an anomaly but simply part of a whole. I love this country. The vastness of the land, the polite people, the variety within. Obviously, it isn't a perfect place without faults, but for me the good is outweighs the bad.


7. Organic Farmers

I'm grateful for the people that work the land the way it was meant to be. In the age where the imitation foods are easily confused with the real thing, and people don't even question the former, their quiet passion for growing variety of food in the labour intensive way in the face of "all about convenience" culture is simply admirable and appreciated.


8. Church

Whether it be the worldwide body or the local one or the group of people gathered to pray or for support under the name of Jesus, it is a beautiful thing. ...when it is working properly. It still amazes me that God would risk all the human garbage for it, but when it is working properly I can see and appreciate God's Faith.

I'm grateful for my own local church. The people that make it up, their all contagious faith and love, and the diversity within. There are people in all walks of life, conviction and ambition. Yet we are all united under one Lord in heart and Spirit. What a marvelous beautiful thing it is!

I only listed them under the big headings because I noticed that I could go on and on. Isn't that wonderful? I noticed that at this moment, I'm so filled with gratitude, I can honestly say that I'm even grateful for those "sandpaper" type people in my life, too! (You know the kind! The kind that you just don't hit it off at all, and they rub you the wrong way at every turn!) Although I don't necessarily feel like this all of the time I'm around these people, I know that God in His wisdom has put them on my path to teach me and mold me into the image of His Son. Therefore, I can be grateful for the purpose they will accomplish in me... even if I grind my teeth all the while.

Thanksgiving puts us in the right frame of mind, though. In fact, it is the only place we can firmly stand. I notice that I'm no good to anyone if I'm not thankful for the things that I do have. The world keeps at us saying "you need this" or "what you have isn't good enough" or "there's better thing here" breeding in us a mounting dissatisfaction with life. When we have thanksgiving in our hearts, though, we are made possible to be "content" and at peace with life. That enables us in turn to fully be in the present, owning all feelings, possession and decisions. And surprise, surprise - it is only when we're here that God will move us ahead.

What are you thankful for today? Would you count them just to see? Try and see if God will not move you forward.