Thankful

Just pure thankful...

I've always been thankful 4 my parents, but there r times when u r just n awww. My parents have always been very sacrificial givers 4 as long as I can remember. Helping ppl move, get settled, mom would help decorate, lots of get 2gethers @ their home, combined vacay's w/friends, helping w/yard work, house sitting, helping others get a business started & expect no pay, etc...

However, now, as an adult, I have received so much from them & it means so much more 2 me than when I was a child. I guess now I completely understand their sacrifice. As a child, they put me through Christian school & college....dad/mom never drove new cars or have hobby ones; they never owned an extra vacay spot, etc....4 me 2 have no educational debt. We had nice vacations, but instead of owning super nice things, they would rather use that extra $$$ 2 help others. I could go on & on.
As an adult, they help my family n so many ways. They always ask what r your needs & wants, we want 2 help meet them. Like our children's furniture, our children's clothes, their shoes, our shoes, lawn mower, medical bills, gas 2 visit them, unending meals out 2 eat, fun stuff like house decor, etc... Always saying we will help or give half 2 this or that & paying n full. Just so giving.

Now as we live, by faith, n more material ways due 2 God's call on this church plant journey, I am all the more thankful 4 my parents. We don't mention our needs, on purpose, & God uses them time after time after time. They have opened their home 4 us 2 live on the wkeds, provide cooked meals or out 2 eat $$, gas $$ 2 get bk & forth every wked, etc.... When we had the $$$ 2 provide all that on our own & they gave here & there, I was thankful, but not 2 the depth that I am now. Now, we know God will provide 4 our needs, but we do not have a controlled plan (salary) like b 4. U have a different perspective when u have absolutely NO control. I mean this is a time n my parents life where they could retire, travel, buy extra things 2 enjoy 4 themselves, & they choose not 2 to a certain extent b/c they would rather sacrifice & help others! The joy is they help more than just my family!

So many nights, we have prayed prayers like, Lord, we have 2 travel home 2morrow, provide the $$ 4 our gas 2 get home. Or our house payment is due this week & we don't have all the $$ 4 the payment, etc... We've never lived like this, so my faith is growing. God is not only using my parents 2 help provide 4 us, but other sweet individuals. When some1 sacrifices 4 others, it says alot, but when they sacrifice 4 me, I am speechless. Yes, I know everything we receive is from God. But, He had provided so much 4 us that we were very comfortable & did not need 2 b concerned w/any needs. We lived the spoiled, comfortable life where we got all our needs met & most of our wants.

We r not here 4 the "American dream"--nice house, couple cars, vacay spot, etc...we r here 2 further the Gospel. Now, there is nothing wrong w/any of those things. However, the Christian culture has bought n 2 the world's culture. Let's have all the nice things & then we will give 2 the Gospel if we have something left over. I have thought that way at times. God does not want my left overs. He wants all, the best, first. For some reason nice things r nice, but just don't matter anymore.



These last 3 mths have not been easy, but I would not change 1 thing. I may not b able 2 have or do all we use to, but I'm fine w/it. The neat thing is, God always provides every need. And sometimes, He provides 4 me extra $$ 2 go out w/a friend or buy a new shirt, & i'm like a kid n a candy store! So excited! It's the simple things! My God delights n me & I n Him!
Honestly, my pride had set n first of Jan b/c I did not want 2 have 2 depend on others 2 meet my needs. God quickly showed me, 2 depend on Him ONLY. He will choose 2 use others & I was going 2 have 2 get over my flesh, boomboom! Crazy thing is, He has provided, at times, 4 us 2 bless others :). It makes my heart leap out of my body!

Thankful.....it means something more 2 me now than ever b 4.