GIVING THANKS !

HAVE YOU EVER NOTICED HOW QUICKLY WE TEND TO GIVE BLAME TO OUR FATHER IN HEAVEN WHEN THINGS ARE TOUGH, AND AREN'T GOING SO GREAT OR WE HAVE LOST SOMEONE OR SOMETHING IN OUR LIFE, “WHY WOULD YOU ALLOW THIS TO HAPPEN TO ME” ? OR ACCUSE HIM OF FORSAKING US, “WHY AREN’T YOU WITH ME, WHY WEREN’T YOU THERE TO PREVENT THIS” ?. IT SEEMS WE ARE VERY QUICK TO GIVE BLAME TO OUR FATHER IN HEAVEN, YET ON THE OTHER HAND ARE WE REALLY SO QUICK TO GET DOWN ON OUR KNEES AND THANK HIM WHEN THINGS ARE GOOD AND RIGHT IN OUR LIVES. DO WE EVER THANK HIM FOR THE TRIALS AND TRIBULATIONS IN OUR LIFE, OR ASK HIM WHAT WE ARE TO BE LEARNING FROM THEM ?. SURE WE GIVE HIM OUR ROUTINE QUICK THANK YOU IN OUR NIGHTLY PRAYERS, BUT DO WE REALLY, TRULY, THANK HIM FOR THINGS GOOD IN OUR LIFE? OR DO WE JUST TAKE THEM FOR GRANTED? DO WE FERVENTLY ASK HIM WHAT IT IS WE ARE TO LEARN FROM OUR CURRENT TRIALS ?. I KNOW I AM GUILTY OF THIS, I NEED TO STOP AND LEARN TO BE THANKFUL FOR THE THORNS.

THE BLESSING OF THORNS
Sandra felt as low as the heels of her shoes as she pushed against a November gust and the florist shop door. Her life had been easy, like a spring breeze. Then in the fourth month of her second pregnancy, a minor automobile accident stole her ease.
During this Thanksgiving week she would have delivered a son. She grieved over her loss. As if that weren't enough, her husband's company threatened a transfer. Then her sister, whose annual holiday visit she coveted, called saying she could not come.
What's worse, Sandra's friend infuriated her by suggesting her grief was a God-given path to maturity that would allow her to empathize with others who suffer. "She has no idea what I'm feeling," thought Sandra with a shudder.
"Thanksgiving? Thankful for what?" she wondered aloud. For a careless driver whose truck was hardly scratched when he rear-ended her? For an airbag that saved her life but took that of her child?
"Good afternoon, can I help you?"
The shop clerk's approach startled her.
"I....I need an arrangement, "stammered Sandra. "For Thanksgiving?
Do you want beautiful but ordinary, or would you like to challenge the day with a customer favorite I call the Thanksgiving Special?" asked the shop clerk.
"I'm convinced that flowers tell stories," she continued
"Are you looking for something that conveys 'gratitude' this Thanksgiving?
"Not exactly!" Sandra blurted out. "In the last five months, everything that could go wrong has gone wrong. " Sandra regretted her outburst, and was surprised when the shop clerk said, "I have the perfect arrangement for you."
Then the door's small bell rang, and the shop clerk said, "Hi Barbara...let me get your order." She politely excused herself and walked toward a small workroom, then quickly reappeared, carrying an arrangement of greenery, bows, and long-stemmed thorny roses.
Except the ends of the rose stems were neatly snipped...there were no flowers.
"Want this in a box?" asked the clerk.
Sandra watched for the customer's response. Was this a joke? Who would want rose stems with no flowers!?! She waited for laughter, but neither woman laughed. "Yes, please," Barbara replied with an appreciative smile.
"You'd think after three years of getting the special, I wouldn't be so moved by its significance, but I can feel it right here, all over again," she said as she gently tapped her chest.
"Uhh," stammered Sandra, "that lady just left with, uhh... she just left with no flowers!"
"Right...I cut off the flowers. That's the Special... I call it the Thanksgiving Thorns Bouquet.
"Oh, come on, you can't tell me someone is willing to pay for that?" exclaimed Sandra.
"Barbara came into the shop three years ago feeling very much like you feel today," explained the clerk. "She thought she had very little to be thankful for. She had lost her father to cancer, the family business was failing, her son was into drugs, and she was facing major surgery."
"That same year I had lost my husband, "continued the clerk," and for the first time in my life, I had to spend the holidays alone. I had no children, no husband, no family nearby, and too great a debt to allow any travel.
"So what did you do?" asked Sandra. "I learned to be thankful for thorns," answered the clerk quietly. "I've always thanked God for good things in life and never thought to ask Him why those good things happened to me, but when bad stuff hit, did I ever ask! It took time for me to learn that dark times are important.
I always enjoyed the 'flowers' of life, but it took thorns to show me the beauty of God's comfort. You know, the Bible says that God comforts us when we're afflicted, and from His consolation we learn to comfort others.
"Sandra sucked in her breath as she thought about the very thing her friend had tried to tell her."I guess the truth is I don't want comfort.
Sandra watched for the customer's response. Was this a joke? Who would want rose stems with no flowers!?! She waited for laughter, but neither woman laughed. "Yes, please," Barbara replied with an appreciative smile.
"You'd think after three years of getting the special, I wouldn't be so moved by its significance, but I can feel it right here, all over again," she said as she gently tapped her chest.
"Uhh," stammered Sandra, "that lady just left with, uhh... she just left with no flowers!"
"Right...I cut off the flowers. That's the Special... I call it the Thanksgiving Thorns Bouquet.
"Oh, come on, you can't tell me someone is willing to pay for that?" exclaimed Sandra.
"Barbara came into the shop three years ago feeling very much like you feel today," explained the clerk. "She thought she had very little to be thankful for. She had lost her father to cancer, the family business was failing, her son was into drugs, and she was facing major surgery."
"That same year I had lost my husband, "continued the clerk," and for the first time in my life, I had to spend the holidays alone. I had no children, no husband, no family nearby, and too great a debt to allow any travel.
"So what did you do?" asked Sandra. "I learned to be thankful for thorns," answered the clerk quietly. "I've always thanked God for good things in life and never thought to ask Him why those good things happened to me, but when bad stuff hit, did I ever ask! It took time for me to learn that dark times are important.
I always enjoyed the 'flowers' of life, but it took thorns to show me the beauty of God's comfort. You know, the Bible says that God comforts us when we're afflicted, and from His consolation we learn to comfort others.
"Sandra sucked in her breath as she thought about the very thing her friend had tried to tell her."I guess the truth is I don't want comfort.
"Well," the clerk replied carefully, "my experience has shown me that thorns make roses more precious. We treasure God's providential care more during trouble than at any other time.
Remember, it was a crown of thorns that Jesus wore so we might know His love. Don't resent the thorns."
Tears rolled down Sandra's cheeks. For the first time since the accident, she loosened her grip on resentment. "I'll take those twelve long-stemmed thorns, please," she managed to choke out.
"I hoped you would," said the clerk gently. "I'll have them ready in a minute."
"Thank you. What do I owe you?" asked Sandra.
"Nothing." said the clerk.
"Nothing but a promise to allow God to heal your heart. The first year's arrangement is always on me. "The clerk smiled and handed a card to Sandra.
"I'll attach this card to your arrangement, but maybe you'd like to read it first."

It read:

"Dear God, I have never thanked you for my thorns. I have thanked you a thousand times for my roses, but never once for my thorns. Teach me the glory of the cross I bear; teach me the value of my thorns. Show me that I have climbed closer to you along the path of pain.
Show me that,through my tears,the colors of your rainbow look much more brilliant."

TO ALL OUR FAMILY AND FRIENDS AT THIS WONDERFUL TIME OF YEAR, MAY WE ALL REMEMBER TO BE THANKFUL FOR ALL THE THINGS IN OUR LIFE, LIKE THE ROSE MAY WE BE THANKFUL FOR THE FLOWER AND THE THORNS.
WE LOVE YOU ALL, AND WE ARE GREATFUL FOR YOUR PRESENCE IN OUR LIVES. MAY YOU KNOW THAT YOU ARE ALWAYS IN OUR THOUGHTS AND PRAYERS.

REMEMBER TO GIVE THANKS.

*** HAPPY THANKSGIVING ***

LOVE, ROBBY & CLAUDIA

7 THINGS YOU MIGHT NOT KNOW ABOUT ME !

1. I DON'T SLEEP IN A NIGHTGOWN ! OK THOSE OF YOU WITH YOUR MINDS IN THE GUTTER, I SLEEP IN PAJAMAS, I DON'T LIKE NIGHTGOWNS !!!! HEE-HEE :)


2. I AM A TOTAL BEACH BUM, AT HEART ! :)


3. I THINK IT WOULD BE A TOTAL BLAST TO TAKE A VACATION BY JUST ARRIVING AT THE AIRPORT AND BUYING A TICKET TO WHERE EVER THE NEXT FLIGHT OUT IS GOING ! HOW FUN WOULD THAT BE?


4. I WOULD LOVE TO RACE DRAG CARS ! I LOVE RACING PEOPLE OFF THE LINE. I LOVE THE ROAR AND THE RUMBLE AT THE RACE TRACK!


5. I AM A CROSS BETWEEN A TOM-BOY AND A GIRLY-GIRL ! SO DOES THAT MAKE ME A TOM-GIRL?


6. I WOULD LOVE, TO WIN THE LOTTERY ! THEN DONATE A BUNCH OF THE MONEY TO SOME CHILDREN'S CHARITIES. :) HOW AWESOME WOULD THAT BE? :)


7. I LOVE HOLIDAYS ! ALL HOLIDAYS, BIG, SMALL AND EVERYTHING IN BETWEEN. THOUGH I WOULD HAVE TO SAY THAT MY
   FAVORITE HOLIDAY IS ……......... THANKSGIVING!
   IT’S ALL ABOUT FAMILIES GETTING TOGETHER, GOOD FOOD,
   GREAT COMPANY, AND QUALITY TIME TOGETHER, TO JUST HAVE
   FUN AND ENJOY EACH OTHER. WHILE GIVING THANKS FOR ALL
   OUR MANY BLESSINGS WITHOUT BEING SO COMMERCIALIZED.

OKAY, THERE YOU HAVE IT, SEVEN THINGS YOU MIGHT NOT HAVE KNOWN ABOUT ME. YEAH, I KNOW, WHO CARES AND WHO ASKED ??? BLAME HEATHER! SO LEAVE ANY COMPLAINTS ON HER BLOG. :) J.K. http://www.bloggingwithus.blogspot.com/

NO ONE FORCED YOU TO READ IT ! - BUT, NOW THAT YOU HAVE I'LL CALL OFF THE HIT MEN !!!!!!!!!

WHAT KIND OF CUP ARE YOU ?

ARE YOU A "CUP HALF FULL" OR "CUP HALF EMPTY" KINDA PERSON ?

THIS VERY THOUGHT PROVOKING QUESTION WAS BEAUTIFULLY AND THOUGHTFULLY POSTED BY ONE OF MY SWEET AND BEAUTIFUL "DAUGHTERS" JAMIE ON HER BLOG, LINK TO IT, IT'S AN AWESOME POST, WITH INSIGHTFUL AND INSPIRING COMMENTS. (JUST CLICK ON THE WORD JAMIE TO LINK TO HER BLOG)

WELL I REALLY WANTED TO PONDER AND GIVE THOUGHT TO THIS QUESTION, WHEN I HAD SOME TIME TO SIT DOWN AND DO SOME REAL SOUL SEARCHING. SO INSTEAD OF BLOGGING MY ENTIRE NOVEL OF AN ANSWER TO HER COMMENT PAGE, AND HOGGING ALL OF HER SPACE, I LEFT A SNIPIT, AND PUT THE REST OF MY THOUGHTS HERE ON MY BLOG.

IF I LIKEN MYSELF TO A CUP FILLED TO THE HALF WAY MARK, THEN I WOULD HAVE TO SAY THERE ARE DAYS THAT I AM "HALF FULL" AND THERE ARE DAYS I AM "HALF EMPTY".

DAYS WHICH I AM "HALF FULL";

ARE DAYS SPENT WITH FAMILY, FRIENDS, ENJOYING A SUNRISE OR SUNSET, PLAYING WITH MY GRANDCHILDREN OR READING TO THEM, TALKING TO MY CHILDREN ON THE PHONE, DOING SERVICE FOR OTHERS, SHARING A SMILE, BEING KIND TO A COMPLETE STRANGER, JUST CHILLIN' WITH MY HUSBAND, READING A GOOD BLOG, WRITING, READING, BLOGGING, DECORATING, LOOKING THROUGH OLD PICTURES, A CANDLE LIGHT DINNER, GOING FOR A DRIVE, MY DOG & CAT, DANCE, CAMPING, A BIKE RIDE, A WALK, MUSIC, LAUGHTER, PRAYER, SCRIPTURE READING, ETC...

I HONESTLY BELIEVE THE WAY TO BEING "HALF FULL" IS BY FILLING YOUR CUP WITH THINGS YOU LOVE AND ENJOY, STAYING BUSY, GIVING. REMEMBER IF YOU GIVE SOME OF YOUR SELF AWAY IT IS EASY TO REPLENISH YOUR SELF. ALL OF THE THINGS ABOVE ARE RESOURCES, "RIVERS, FOUNTAINS, SPRINGS, AND WELLS" IF YOU WILL, THAT WE CAN REPLENISH OUR SELF FROM, PEOPLE OR THINGS WHO CAN HELP US TO MAINTAIN OUR "HALF FULL" STATUS.

OTHER TYPES OF "HALF FULL" DAYS;

ARE THE DAYS WERE I TAKE CONTROL OF MY OUTLOOK ABOUT THINGS, I FIND THE POSITIVE IN A NEGATIVE, I DON’T ALLOW PEOPLE TO PUSH MY BUTTONS, I FIND UNDERSTANDING INSTEAD OF JUDGEMENT, I LAUGH THINGS OFF, I PRETEND THAT THE DRIVER I HONKED AT FOR CUTTING ME OFF WAVED TO ME (EVEN THOUGH IT WAS ONLY WITH ONE FINGER), I DON’T GET UPSET THAT THE PERSON I LET GO AHEAD OF ME DIDN’T EVEN SAY THANK YOU, I AM GREATFUL FOR THE 3 THINGS I GOT DONE ON MY TO DO LIST, I REMEMBER I CAN'T CONTROL EVERYTHING AND THAT'S OK, I DON'T ALLOW SOMEONE TO HURT MY FEELINGS, I STEP BACK AND LOOK AT LIFE INSTEAD OF LOOKING AT IT THROUGH A MAGNIFYING GLASS, I STOP TO SMELL THE ROSES I PLANTED IN MY YARD EVEN THOUGH THE PLANTS AREN'T THAT HEALTHY THE FLOWERS STILL SMELL GOOD. (IT'S HARD TO GROW ROSES WHERE I LIVE BUT I LOVE THEM SO I HAD TO TRY).

DAYS WHICH I FEEL "HALF EMPTY";

ARE DAYS I DON'T EVEN REALIZE THAT SO MUCH OF ME HAS “EVAPORATED“, AMOUNTS WERE TAKEN AWAY IN SUCH SMALL PORTIONS I DIDN’T EVEN NOTICE, THOSE ARE DAYS WHERE IT SEEMS AS THOUGH EVERYONE NEEDS A SIP OF ME, WORK, FAMILY, SPOUSE, HOME, CHURCH, NEIGHBOR, FRIEND, OBLIGATIONS, THE UNEXPECTED, YOU KNOW THOSE DAYS WERE EVERYTHING THAT CAN GO WRONG WILL, ETC….. UNTIL BY THE END OF THE DAY I FEEL EMPTY, AND FINALLY REALIZE JUST HOW MUCH HAS BEEN TAKEN.

OTHER TYPES OF "HALF EMPTY" DAYS;

ARE THOSE DAYS THAT I ALLOWED MY SELF TO “BOIL” OVER WITH ALL OF MY ROUTINE DAILY ACTIVITIES, PLUS SOME ADDITIONAL ONES THAT I TOOK UPON MYSELF, LIKE LETTING SOMEONE HURT MY FEELINGS, NOT SPEAKING UP TO THE BOSS TO REMIND HIM I'M NOT SUPER WOMAN AND I CAN'T DO 100 THINGS AT ONE TIME, (AT LEAST NOT WELL), ALLOWING MY WORKERS TO PUSH MY BUTTONS, GETTING ANGRY BECAUSE I JUST GOT CUT OFF FOR THE 10TH TIME IN ONLY THE LAST 2 MINUTES, HAVING TO DEAL WITH IDIOT # 400 ON THE PHONE, (AND IT'S NOT EVEN LUNCH TIME YET), NOT GETTING A LUNCH BREAK EVER, FORGETING THINGS BIG AND SMALL, HAVING A DOZEN THINGS ON MY TO DO LIST AND ONLY GETTING 2 OR 3 OF THEM DONE, TRYING TO MAINTAIN CONTROL OVER EVERYTHING, ALLOWING SOMEONE TO GET MY GOAT, ALLOWING SOMEONE TO MAKE ME FEEL BAD ABOUT MYSELF. ETC…….

BY THE TIME I STOP BOILING I'M "HALF EMPTY".

IT’S ON THESE DAYS WHEN I’M FEELING "HALF EMPTY", THAT I FIND I HAVE A “THRIST” TO REPLENISH MY SELF, I NEED TO “DRINK” MORE, EITHER WITH PRAYER, LOVE, HAPPINESS, JOY, SERVICE, KNOWLEDGE, WISDOM, FAMILY, FRIENDS, SCRIPTURE READING, ETC……

(THE I NEED TO "DRINK" MORE FOR ME WAS FIGURATIVELY, NOT LITERALLY, - YOU KNOW IN A, I THIRST FOR WISDOM AND SPIRITUAL HELP KINDA WAY, NOT LIKE I REALLY NEED SOME BOOSE KINDA WAY). LOL

SO I GUESS I AM A PERSON WHO AT TIMES CAN BE "HALF EMPTY", BUT EVEN ON THOSE DAYS I JUST TRY TO REMEMBER TO REPLENISH MYSELF SO THAT I CAN REMAIN "HALF FULL".

I BELIEVE WE ALL HAVE "HALF FULL" AND "HALF EMPTY" DAYS, THAT'S ALL PART OF THIS GAME CALLED LIFE AND I BELIEVE NO MATTER WHAT STAGE YOU'RE IN, YOUNG OR OLD, RICH OR POOR, HEALTHY OR NOT SO MUCH, WE EXPERIENCE SITUATIONS DIFFERENTLY DAY TO DAY, IT’S JUST REMEMBERING THAT SOME DAYS WE NEED TO REPLENISH OUR SELF MORE THAN OTHER DAYS.

SO TO ME, MAYBE THE QUESTION ISN'T SO MUCH ABOUT WHICH AM I, "HALF FULL" OR "HALF EMPTY", SINCE I BELIEVE THAT LIKE MOST PEOPLE I CAN BE BOTH, BUT MORE ABOUT WHAT I DO DIFFERENTLY EACH DAY, AND HOW I CAN TURN "HALF EMPTY" INTO "HALF FULL".

THANK YOU JAMIE FOR ASKING A QUESTION THAT MADE ME STOP AND THINK, PONDER AND REALLY DO SOME SOUL SEARCHING, AND THEN TURNING IT INTO A FORUM WHERE WE COULD ALL SHARE AND HOPEFULLY INSPIRE ONE ANOTHER, AND SEE THAT EVEN THOUGH WE MIGHT ALL BE FROM DIFFERENT AREAS, OR IN DIFFERENT STAGES OF OUR LIVES, HAVE DIFFERENT CIRCUMSTANCES THAN ONE ANOTHER, THAT WE REALLY ARE ALL GOD'S CHILDREN AND WE REALLY AREN'T SO DIFFERENT AFTER ALL.

HOPE YOU'RE HAVING A "HALF FULL" DAY !