Cody Johnson’s song is one that hits home. You can do things with your loved ones as long as they are here, but one day you may not have that chance. I think about all the memories I have with my Gran and Ma, Grampsy, and my aunt Brenda and of course Nolan. No one wants to think about a day we don’t have the people we love in our lives, but this is all of our realities.
Last week, on Sunday, Pastor Bill spoke about how many times the word thanks is found in Scripture, so decided to look it up. I found thanksgiving was mentioned 72 times, gratitude 157 times, and “fear not” 365 times. Interesting how “fear not” appears the exact amount of times for us to read one a week for a year. It seems God knows just what we need.
This week, I am going to choose to be thankful. Thankful for people who I miss, but who were so meaningful in my life. Thankful for a church that reaches out to the community and makes a difference. Thankful for friends that have organizations that make an impact in our community.
There is something I learned when interning for my undergraduate degree. I learned you can’t fix every problem or issues, but you can make a difference. One step, one day a a time. Little steps can lead to a big change.
I have a dream and I am gonna chase it and I hope you will too. I want to give my all to changing the lives of others. Listening to their hearts and pouring back into their lives.
Whatever dream God has placed on your heart, take it and run! He didn’t put that seed in your heart without the ability to see it to fruition. You can make a difference…you can see ways to be thankful no matter the circumstances…you can do like the words of Cody Johnson’s song and have a dream and chase it…
Thanksgiving begins with family and friends we love and who have impacted our lives. I will always remember the times my Ma cooked a thanksgiving feast and my Gran spend hours cleaning up the kitchen afterwards. The days my Grampsy took us with him fishing and taught us so many things. The times Aunt Brenda was smiling and glowing to see all of her family enjoying a thanksgiving and Christmas feast her mama was preparing. And the days Nolan spent making us laugh and smile, and for the love we all have in our hearts.
Like Cody Johnson says in his song, “if you’re gonna love somebody hold them as long and as strong and as close as you can until you can’t”… You”ll never know how bad you wanna until you can’t someday. Don’t wait on tomorrow, cause tomorrow may not show, say your sorry’s, your “I love you” cause you never know….
One day, those precious souls in your life could be gone. Yes, they are with Jesus, but not with you. Sometimes life seems hard, but we have to learn to be thankful. No matter the circumstances, the Lord has blessed us with another day and another year to be with the ones we love. And the ones who have gone before us, no matter how hard, it was part of His plan. We may not understand it now, but one day it will all make sense. I hope until that day we all keeping looking to Jesus and asking Him to guide us along the way.
Digging Deeper 