giving thanks

Vincent van Gogh: Irises (1890) (Photo credit: Wikipedia)

I meant to start my month of thankfulness on Nov 1^st but what with the remodeling and my mother’s health, that didn’t happen.  But hey, I’ll just start a few days late.

There are some things I’m always thankful for—-God, my husband, my family, my friends, my home, my health.  I am truly blessed in this regard. I’ve decided I will follow the alphabet as a prompt. It will keep me from resorting to the obvious. Today,   is “A”.  Hmmmm.

“Big A, little a, what begins with A? Angels, apples, art, A…a….A.” (Sounds like Dr. Seuss’, The Alphabet Book, doesn’t it?) These are good but they’re just not quite right.  I’ve got it!  I’m thankful for the “ancients”.

Who are the “ancients”?  They are the people who’ve gone before. The inventors, the artists, the philosophers, the preachers, the writers, the thinkers.  Do any of us think about the people who’ve paved the way for all we enjoy today?  Every new product we enjoy, each new electronic  “toy”, every new creative spark has at its core some nugget of influence from the past. I love the saying “There is nothing new under the sun” from Ecclesiastes 1:9. Basically it means that everything builds on everything else.

I’m particularly grateful for the “ancients” of faith. I am sometimes critical of the Biblical apostles saying to myself that had I been fortunate enough to meet Jesus in person, (I will someday) to be His disciple for three years, I never would’ve acted the way they did.  Who am I kidding? I owe those disciples my eternal gratitude. Without them I wouldn’t have the gospels.

I’m glad I thought of the word “ancient”.  In a world that gets “faster” all the time, in a world where everything is “dated”, being grateful for the “ancients” is a good start.

Thank you, Moses, Matthew, Mark, Luke, John, Peter, Paul, James, Mary Magdeline, Joseph of Arimathea ,Socrates, Ben Franklin, Susan B. Anthony, Alexander Graham Bell, George Washington, Abraham Lincoln, Edith Wharton, Charles Spurgeon, Florence Nightingale, Vincent Van Gogh, Bill Gates, Elvis, my grandmother…………………………….

Rebecca

Hi. I'm so glad you're here. My blog focuses on faith and mental health issues such as mood disorders like depression, anxiety, and dysthymia (chronic low moods that don't qualify as depression.) I post DIY and decorating projects when I can. My book, "Depression Has A Big Voice. Make Yours Bigger! (Expanded Edition), is on sale at all online retailers. I have a Psychology degree and post-graduate courses in Clinical Pastoral Education. I am a former hospital chaplain, Bible teacher, and retreat/conference inspirational speaker. Thank you for visiting and may you feel God's presence today.

See Full Bio