Gratitude: a moment of reflection

Photo: mysza831 on Flickr

This weekend presents one of the most interesting Thanksgiving weekends for me probably ever. I’ve been in tough spots before, but the current global economic situation coupled with my husband having recently been laid off (because the banks have pulled funding for real estate high rise construction), leaves me really contemplating what I am thankful for this year.

Firstly, I’m thankful that there is a God, and He’s the God who created heaven and earth. The God who sent His Son to die for me.

I’m thankful for my family. I’m thankful for my husband – a man with the biggest heart of anyone I’ve ever met. A man who would move heaven and earth for his family if he needed to. A man who loves me despite my shortcomings. A man who has been through many challenging situations in this life and who has pulled himself up out of the muck and made something wonderful.

I’m thankful for my beautiful son. I’m grateful every day that God let us keep him in that very dark moment when he was just 5 weeks old – a moment forever burned in my memory. I’m thankful for every moment I’ve had to spend with him and everything he’s taught me about me and about humanity.

I’m thankful for my parents who will always be my parents, even without a biological tie.

I’m thankful for my mother in law, who has built a special bond with my son, and without whom my life would be very different.

I’m thankful for my home. As much as I complain about how little space we have, I’m thankful that I can live in one of the most beautiful cities in the world. I’m thankful that we have a roof over our heads and that our son has his own room. I’m thankful that we have extras like TV and internet and phone service. I’m thankful that we have clean running water and enough food.

I’m thankful for my brother and sister-in-law, my other sister-in-law and my biological half sister and grandmother. I’m thankful for my friends, who care enough to share their lives with me.

I’m thankful for my job. I’m thankful that Della and Stuart McLaughlin, owners of Grouse Mountain, have allowed me to continue to learn and flourish and grow and contribute and help in some small way to continue to evolve this amazing thing they have worked so hard to build. I’m thankful that they’ve taken so many chances on me and that I’ve come through it all with a better understanding of myself, my skills, my talents and abilities, my likes and dislikes and my value as a professional.

No matter what happens… I’m blessed beyond belief. It’s my prayer that I would never forget that.

Happy Thanksgiving everyone!