Grateful, Thankful and Blessed...

I will give thanks to you, Lord, with all my heart.  I will tell of all your wonderful deeds. Psalm 9:1

As I sit and ponder the many things that I thankful and grateful for I can’t help but think of the blessings in my life that  are grand or minuscule.  I have always wanted to compose a list of things that God has blessed me with without feeling guilty of it. I have learned that God’s blessings can always be shared in hopes of blessing others that might be going through the same thing or waiting for an unanswered prayer.

Things I am Grateful  BLESSED with:

1.   Mercy and Grace:  Having mercy is God not giving us what we do deserve and grace is God giving us something we do not deserve.Saving grace is grace from God that provides salvation to anyone who ask.  In Ephesians 2:8-9 it is written, "For by grace you have been saved through faith. And this is not your own doing; it is the gift of God, not a result of works, so that no one may boast."

2.   Ma, Madre, Momma, Mommy, Momsicles: I think  covers all the names I call her.  What on God’s green earth would I do without her? She loves me unconditionally. For believing in me, even when I didn't believe in myself. For always pushing me to be the best person I can be. Forcing me to wear a jacket, even when I get annoyed about it, because we both know  we can get sick without one and our faces will get paralyzed. The countless nights  when I was little that she slept with me until I fell asleep. Letting me make my own mistakes, and encouraging me to make them so I could grow. For not telling me "I told you so", although, I probably deserve to hear it a lot. Always making me laugh, for always being so strong,  you give me your strength.For being more than my mother, but my best friend.


3.   Family: Who isn’t grateful for family? Yes, I know what you are thinking, some of you don’t even like all your family members. Everybody has different kinds of relationships with their families, but everybody should have something to be thankful for them.If it weren't for my family, I would not have a roof over my head. I would not have food to eat or clothes to wear. I would not be motivated, mature, or focused. I am forever thankful for the blessings that they have given me, something we all need to realize once in our lives.

4.   J-O-B: Although, most days I come home tired but I do love my job. I love being able to interact with adults and in my eyes children; I know they are middle schoolers, but nonetheless, they are still my babies. I am grateful for the Thank You notes I get on my desk or the good news teachers tell me about students I have been “mentoring”. Middle school is VERY different from elementary. It is the time of mini-adults and  discovering who they will eventually become and help shape them into becoming good citizens.  I love my department everyday brings something new and something we can laugh and rejoice for. Every day is a different day, somedays are peaceful and somedays you pray the end of the day can come quick.

5.   Bethel Ministry: I have been attending Bethel Ministry since I was 11 years old. I have seen families come and go. Families grow and loose some. I have gone through every age group of Sunday School and Youth Night .  I am mostly grateful for the opportunities they have given me to be the hands and feet of Jesus.  I teach/co-teach Children’s Church and I absolutely love it. I love seeing the children line up and get sad when we don’t go. I love that they yearn to learn about Jesus and have an innocent  love for him. I am so proud of the things they have learned: The books in the Old testament, The Creation, The Lord’s Prayer and the sole purpose of Jesus being born. Bethel has sent me to Mission Trips that have changed me. Mexico, Honduras: How can I forget my Toño, Guatemala and Dominican Republic. 


6.   Friends: Oh! How I love being the social butterfly; ok, maybe on occasions.  I have had so many come and go. I have seen them get married, start their families, move away. I feel guilty for loosing contact with them, I am trying to put in effort, some friends are worth keeping. What I miss most is the laughter, the tears and tea; texting doesn’t give you the same sense of closeness. I  hope that I am the friend who cares deeply, shares richly, gives thoughtfully, and inspires us all.


I have so many more things I am blessed with like my weird anecdotes and  obsessions  not liking odd numbers which does not allow me to make a #7 because then I have to continue writing to make it an even number, loving pickles but not on my hamburgers or Chick-Fil-A sandwiches or the best one; not having my food touch, and  the love of all things: Zac Efron and Leonardo DiCaprio (she had room on that door for the both of them)

I leave you with this:
“There are only two ways to live your life. One is as though nothing is a miracle. The other is as though everything is a miracle.” — Albert Einstein
-Love and Blessing
Ash












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