As I sit here, exhausted from a day of cleaning, cooking, and cleaning up, too tired to get ready to go to bed, I’m very thankful.
I’m thankful I have a house to clean. It’s warm in the winter, and cool in the summer. I can lock the doors and feel safe at home. Some people have no home, or are not safe in the place they live. I am very fortunate.
I’m thankful for a fridge full of food. Many people go to bed hungry each night, and wake up hungry the next morning, with little or nothing in between. I am blessed to live in the United States, where food is plentiful, and grateful that I can provide for my family.
I’m thankful for a family that I can cook for, who enjoyed the meal, and shared a wonderful day. I can’t imagine what it must be like to be completely alone in the world, and feel very blessed to have so many loved ones close by.
I’m more than thankful; I’m overjoyed that the doctors removed the tumor in my father’s lung, and he is now cancer-free. I have the opportunity to spend more time with him, and will treasure every minute, because I know it is precious.
I’m also thrilled that my daughter was able to join us today. Spending holidays with her, and every chance I get, fills my heart with joy. And I’m thankful for her wonderful boyfriend who loves her nearly as much as I do.
And my husband, who saw how bone-tired I was, and insisted in putting me in a recliner with a blanket and the remote, while he put the table away, and the chairs back in their places, is a daily reminder of how fortunate I am. I’m thankful to have someone in my life who loves me, and takes care of me, the way he does.
Then there’s all assorted and sundry things in life that make me happy: the friends with whom I can share stupid jokes and cat pictures, the clients who help me pay my bills, the strangers I meet in the store and share a brief bit of conversation that adds a little spark to the day, the babies in strollers that make me remember what it’s like to be a new mom, my pets who make me laugh. I’m thankful for the sister who infuriates and amuses me, and for all the laughter and tears we’ve shared over our lifetime together. The list goes on and on.
I’m thankful for all the days I’ve had up to now – the good, the bad, the fantastic, and the dreadful. I can’t change a thing in the past, and don’t think I would if I could. They’ve all brought me to where I am today: tired beyond belief, in a quiet house, with a comfortable bed waiting for me in the next room. And for that, I am very thankful.