Those of you who participate in Social Media will have seen “days of joy” and “gratitude journal” posts recently. I have enjoyed these posts as I count blessings with my friends who live as far away as Japan. As I was reading aloud to my children and contemplating the meaning of Thanksgiving, I decided to create a simple Top Ten list of reasons I am thankful this season.
(After reading about the first American Thanksgiving to my children, I am tempted to begin with “I am thankful that my guest did not bring an extra ninety guests with him.”)
10. I am thankful that my children are healthy. Some of our friends have recently become involved with orphanages in Uganda. It is difficult, if not impossible, for the children to study their lessons when they do not have enough food or clean water.
9. I am thankful for the privilege of inspiring each of my four children as the unique individuals that they are—tennis player, artist, dancer, and actress.
8. I am thankful for the many tutors, coaches, and fine arts instructors who have poured their time, energy, and love into my children.
7. I am thankful for times spent reading aloud with my children from Scripture, literature, history, science, and current events and for the great conversations which follow.
6. I am thankful for friends who support me in this endeavor through prayer, Scripture, fellowship, and carpooling to activities.
5. I am thankful for an abundance of resources—many of which were created by homeschooling pioneers who worked hard to make the way smooth for us—to help me train up my children in the way they should go.
4. I am thankful for colleagues in Classical Conversations who walk every day with integrity and who like to discuss big ideas (and even act out Shakespearean scenes when the mood is right).
3. I am thankful for my Classical Conversations community. I love to behold the rich tapestry God weaves together each week out of very different but wholly unified families.
2. I am thankful for my husband who has loved me and supported me for eighteen years, who did not panic when I longed to stay home with our firstborn, and who works hard daily to care for us.
1. I am thankful for the freedom to homeschool.
I pray that all of you will have a wonderful Thanksgiving with your families and friends, that you will be able to compose a long list of reasons to be thankful. For those of you walking through a season when it is difficult to find reasons, I pray that friends and family will walk with you through the valley and that you will feel the presence of the Lord.
Take a moment today to pour out your thanks as an offering to the Lord.
“Enter into his gates with thanksgiving, and his courts with praise: be thankful unto him, and bless his name.” Psalm 100:4 (KJV)
