Thanksgiving Thoughts

Enter his gates with thanksgiving
       and his courts with praise;
       give thanks to him and praise his name.

For the LORD is good and his love endures forever;
       his faithfulness continues through all generations.
Psalm 100:4-5 (NIV)

Thanksgiving morning, 2002. The first day Kari and I woke up in our new house. We had waited three and a half years for that day. And it was finally here. Just us. Kari, me, and three-month-old Sarah. And we were thankful.

Thanksgiving morning 2004. Sarah was two - and running around the house as our morning entertainment. Kari nursed two-month-old Caleb. Life was full. Life was rich. And we were thankful.

Thanksgiving morning 2008. I am sitting in my living room. Alone. (I'm sure in a few minutes that will all change.) I can hear my six-year-old girl and four-year-old boy playing above me, making each other laugh. And I am thankful.

Three-month-old Hannah sleeps in her crib. She is the addition we didn't even know we wanted and now can't imagine life any other way. She smiles wide and often. Yesterday she shared her first real laugh. And I am thankful.

My bride is asleep as well. She's already been up feeding Hannah, and preparing her famous Limpa bread for a family dinner we will enjoy several hours from now. For now...she rests. She is a fantastic mother, a gifted teacher, a devoted friend, and a partner, lover, confidante, encourager, and bringer-of-joy to my life. And I am thankful.

Lord Jesus, on this Thanksgiving Day, I will enter Your gates with thanksgiving. I will enter Your courts with praise. I will give thanks to You. I will praise Your name. I will proclaim that You are good. I will declare that Your love endures forever. I will rest in Your faithfulness that continues through all generations. Amen.