Gratefulness

I got a late start today due to a sick grandson but I chose to write about gratefulness as my "G" topic. There are so many others beginning with G that it was hard to choose. But one of the things we are overwhelmingly grateful for is the privilege of having had John with us for 22 years. He blessed us and was an example to us in so many ways. He also left behind his journal that he started in his freshman year of college and continued until about 6 days before he left on his hike.

His hike started on Thanksgiving Day 1999 and in his last entry he wrote about the things he was grateful and thankful for. This is the last paragraph of that entry written on November 19, 1999.

Well, since Thanksgiving is coming up, I’m going to work on counting my blessings, which, says Mom, are many. First off, I’m living in Hawaii right near HI Volcanoes National Park. It would be hard to imagine a more unique spot on the planet. I have a job with the U.S. Geological Survey, an important organization that will be spicy on my resume. I’m working in field biology, gaining valuable experience that will help me in my decision of whether to pursue graduate studies, and if so, in what. I’m in better physical condition than I have been since I was 15 ( with the possible exception of times near field day at PQQ). I have an awesome mountain bike for the first time in my life, and so far I haven’t entirely killed myself on it yet. I have two wonderful, supportive parents, and an amazing sister and a cool brother. I have a set of extremely varied experiences that is broader culturally, geographically, and educationally than most people gain in a lifetime, and there is no sign that I will cease or slow down in gaining further experience. Most importantly, I’m a child of God and I know where I’m going – I just need help finding out what to do in the meanwhile.

Yes, we're very grateful for the 22 years we had with John. But we're grateful for so much more. We're grateful for the promise of eternal life through Jesus Christ that assures us that we will see our son again and that we'll have endless time to spend together with him worshiping the King of Kings and Lord of Lords.

We're grateful for our other two children and our grandson and for the privilege of spending time together and working together. They are all treasures, each unique in their own way.

We're grateful for having had the privilege of living and working in other cultures for the greater part of our lifetimes - I speak for both myself and my husband. Since 1972 when we first went to "Jungle Camp" in Mexico, we have had the privilege of interacting with various people groups and cultures. Each one has enriched our lives.

But probably most importantly we are grateful to God for pouring His love out upon us and giving to us so many things that we don't deserve out of His storehouses of abundant blessing, rather than giving us what we deserve - which would be death because of our sin. All that we receive from Him daily is pure grace and for that we are extremely grateful.

So what makes you grateful? And come back tomorrow for a bunch of "H" topics. This time I really couldn't choose.