A time for thanks...

I have come across many people who have been doing the "30 days of Thanksgiving" this past month or those that have listed things that they are thankful for as the season approaches and reminds us of those things that make us who we are and why we should be thankful.

You often see things like family, friends, husband, wife, children, job (if you are so lucky), material belongings, good health, God and so much more. It is often a reflection of the life of the person sharing and offers a great insight into their everyday joys as well as sometimes even their struggles.

Now, I do realize that this might cause a bit of a stir or even confusion. During this holiday season, I have been often reminded that I am TRULY thankful for one thing: ME

Sounds quite vain, do you say? Now don't get me wrong, I am thankful for many things and people in my life and I am often reminded that I am not always deserving of all that I have been blessed with on a daily basis.

However, I challenge you to try and follow me as I work through this thought of being thankful for MYSELF...

I am thankful that I am a mother to two beautiful girls. I am thankful that I am the type of mother that will put my own goals and ego aside to make sure that my girls are provided for and loved upon in a way that they will never feel from any other human being, being that I am the only mother that they have.

I am thankful that I am a stepmother to two boys who have been some of the most challenging aspects of my life. I am thankful that I have learned to be more patient and have put in the time and effort often times needed for a relationship between myself and them to even be possible.

I am thankful that I am a loving wife. Without my ability to love him, my husband would have never known the idea or feeling of non negotiable love that two people can feel for one another.  I believe this leads him to be a better man in many ways.

I am thankful that I am a person that pays attention to detail as well as has overall ideas of the big picture. I am thankful that I have learned ways to better budget for our family, so that we may continue to enjoy a beautiful home and other things in life that we may not otherwise be able to afford.

I am thankful that I have had the strength to face many obstacles and to help educate people in what it means to be a strong woman, even though that may not always fit into the "mold" that they have formulated in their minds.

I am thankful that I am a hardworking and driven individual, so that many have felt the impact of my determination and passion for all things in my community.

I am thankful that I am a person that constantly seeks the desire to have a relationship with my Creator, so that many can see the wonderful things that can come from having a spiritual life, although not always perfect.  Which goes along with the fact that I am thankful that I am a person willing to be honest and open with others, so as to make a positive impacts in lives that I may touch in some way.

Most of all, I am thankful that I am ME. I am thankful that I can recognize the good during the bad, that I can constantly learn ways to love myself and be open to the idea that I am here for a greater purpose than just that which I feel to be true.

I am ME and just that is enough to be thankful for...