As we try to serve our family with thanksgiving, let us please examine our spirits. It is so easy to slip into a negative mindset. I had slipped into it quite deeply the other day, and a friend, quite unaware of it, was speaking of how the Lord had been showing her to be grateful for everything. That really spoke to me. So I began trying to be thankful for not only the "big" things, but smaller as well: waking up in the morning, being able to walk, see, hear, ect., etc. It is amazing, when we start to count our blessings, how many we truly will accumulate!

Let us count our blessings! One very important blessing in our lives are our family. Very few people will ever know us as fully as our families, and will ever love us as completely. It is sad how we can care so much for them, but often those are the ones we treat the worst.

It can really be difficult as we try and serve others. It can go along easily for a time, but often we sometimes tend to get discouraged when unplanned problems occur and when we mess up. I am learning that I cannot, no matter how hard I try, do everything perfectly. Which could be exceptionally depressing, if it were to end there. However, I am pleased to say, it does not have to! The Bible teaches that once we are Christians, that Jesus lives in us, and His Spirit is in us. That means whatever we do, God will do it through us, if only we will ask Him.

When it seems hopeless, remember that nothing is hopeless or impossible with our Messiah! "For with God nothing shall be impossible." Luke 1:37 As we cling to that verse, as a theme, we can meditate on it as we mop the floor, cook food over hot stoves, or wash little siblings hands. Whatever seems impossible as you serve your family remember that with God nothing is impossible! It does not say, almost nothing is impossible with God, it says NOTHING!

In May of this past year, my family went through many various trials. Within nine or ten days, my dad crushed his foot and hurt his head. My brother broke his arm and we lost my Great-grandfather. For a few weeks we did not know what might happen next. Surely, these circumstances could never bring about any good, right? I might have thought so at the beginning. It brought my family closer together, and my little brother accepted Christ as his Savior, a short time later. I really do not know, but it could have been one or more of these factors that brought him on his knees before our loving Savior.

Let’s partake of Jesus so fully that all we do can simply be an overflow of Him in our lives! As one man said, "As we partake so fully of Jesus, it isn't overwork but overflow!"

Embrace the arms of our Savior! He does not want us to try and do anything on our own. He longs for each of us to clasp our hands into His and to walk each path of life along with Himself.

"Without Interruption"

Lord, do Thou turn me all into love,
and all my love into obedience
and let my obedience be
without interruption.
Written by Jeremy Taylor.

Obey the Lord, and He will give us an obedient spirit, when it comes to others also. We are not responsible how people respond to us, but we are responsible how we respond to them. When we focus on loving and serving Jesus, then it is we can begin to love and serve others.

Serve with thankfulness! May the Lord serve others through us, and grant us a thankful heart!

Thank God for dirty dishes,
they have a tale to tell;
while other folks go hungry,
we're eating very well.

With Home and Health and Happiness
we shouldn't want to fuss,
for by this stack of evidence,
God's very good to us!
Author Unknown

Article first published in Genteel Girlhood magazine, Fall 2001.

 A little about me: I live in the country, in West Virginia, with two of the most wonderful parents and two of the cutest, little brothers in the entire world. I am a homeschool graduate, university student, founder of "Kids Helping Kids" a not-for-profit organization that helps children who are less fortunate, webmaster for the Beautiful Christian Teen website and weekly columnist for county newspapers. Saved at the age of almost 3, I surrendered to Christ for His service in whatever He chooses, at the age of 12. My interests include: reading, writing, sewing, embroidering, cooking, baking, bike riding, walking, animals (I love Golden Retrievers!), mission work, etc. As for my ambition in life, my foremost goal is to please my Father in Heaven, and serve Him in however He sees fit.  Hopefully, His will for my life includes becoming a wife and a mom someday. (I love kids!!!) I am interested in dedicating my life to missionary service, if it is the will of Christ.  Above all, it is my prayer that the Lord will use me as a vessel for Himself.