Day 35

Take a look at this picture and tell me what you see:

Let me guess your answer... a box, right?  That's what I see too.  Let me tell you about it.  When we got home from an afternoon bike ride today, my sons were so excited because there were two boxes on our front porch.  What could they be?  Once we got inside, we discovered that one of the boxes was actually for our neighbor, so my seven year old became the mailman and delivered that box.  The box addressed to us was my seven year old's brand new coat... remember, the one that I got for $30?  He was so excited to open the box and try it on.  He loves it... and it's big enough for him to wear two years.  Only $15 per year for a coat?  That's definitely a blessing from God.

The coat was promptly put away and the box lingered on the kitchen floor.  As I was cleaning up the dinner dishes, I heard my three year old playing behind the island.  He was being pretty quiet, which can mean there's suspicious behavior going on, so I decided to check on him.  To my delight and surprise, he had converted the box into a bed.  You got it, his entire body was snuggled in the box and his feet and waist were covered with the coat bag.  It was pretty cute!  But that's not all... later, his brother used the box as a seat.  And my three year old wasn't done with this ordinary box either, oh no... before his bath, he put the box upside down on the couch and explained "This is a campsite, mommy.  And this is a tent."  Too funny!  So what we saw as an ordinary box was actually a bed, a chair, a campsite and a tent to my two creative boys. 

Thanksgiving can be like the box.  Something we perceive as a normal circumstance can be transformed into something new and exciting through the lens of thankfulness.  The boys had a blast transforming the box into whatever their imaginations desired.  How much more fun could we have by looking through the lens of thankfulness and transforming normal into splashes of joy throughout our day?  May we all see the box a little differently... a little more creatively... because of our commitment to make thanksgiving a habit.

You are my God, and I will give You thanks; You are my God, and I will exalt You.  Give thanks to the Lord, for He is good; His love endures forever.  Psalm 118:28-29

Today, I am thankful for...

1.  Prayer with friends
2.  Forgiveness
3.  God expanding my time... a few more To Do list items checked off today!
4.  Creative problem solving with a friend and witnessing how God truly is in the details and provides solutions
5.  Phone calls
6.  Afternoon bike ride with the boys (I was walking, of course)
7.  Crisp, sunny afternoon
8.  My three year old's biking fashion... snow boots, shorts, and fingerless gloves
9.  The imagination of children
10.  My three year old complimenting me on dinner - love those encouraging words!
11.  Christmas plans on the calendar
12.  Christmas wrapping paper
13.  Soothing sound of Christmas music while working at the computer
14.  Boys in bed by 8:15 - Woo Hoo!
15.  God's faithfulness and how He reveals Himself to us in unique ways

Here's to 10,000 reasons... Only 6,232 to go...