I Thank My God For You

Happy Day-After-Thanksgiving, everyone!

I hope you all had a wonderful time with your families yesterday :). For my international art blog friends, who may not be familiar with the term, “Thanksgiving” is a very important American holiday. It is a special time where families gather together to feast and, you guessed it, give thanks! 

I am thankful for so very many things this year. God has really blessed me with some amazing gifts in this short life of mine. This year alone, He has just poured out a bounty in my life! He has given me new opportunities and the necessary skills and courage to accomplish them. 

There have been a lot of firsts for me in 2022 - my first show as a Christian Artist, the chance to lead an art retreat in the wilderness, and even the opportunity to lead worship at my church! The last one was especially big for me since it was also my first time singing with a microphone. I have never had what you would call a “good" singing voice and certainly not one that anyone ever wanted to amplify haha. But God came through! Because of my willingness, He used me to meet a need. The only way I can explain it is that God blessed me with songs to sing to Him the same way He gives me words to pray to Him.  

Beyond the accomplishments, I am grateful for many other things - the roof over my head, my health, my talent, my new life in Christ, and the comfort and security which I enjoy. However, the thing that I am MOST thankful for are the people in my life! 

The people that God has given me are by far my greatest treasure. I am thankful for my family - the people that He gave me before birth to walk through life with. And I am thankful for the new ways in which He has grown and strengthened my family’s  relationships. I am thankful for my friends - the beautiful people that He continues to place in my path. 

When I was in grade-school my best friend Christina told me that “friends are God’s way of showing us love on Earth.” Tina was a Christian long before the notion ever floated across my mind and at the time her words sounded corny. BUT now I know she wan’t wrong and I am so grateful for every ounce of love, encouragement, help, and wisdom He has shown me through my friends! 

So, If you are reading this right now, know that I am thankful for YOU! YOU are a blessing in my life and literally an answer to my prayers. And that includes YOU too, my international art blog friends! Even if we have never met in person before and you are reading this on the other side of the world, please know that you too are a blessing in my life and an answer to my prayers. I ask God every time I sit down to type a new post, to help me share something meaningful, help me encourage someone, inspire someone, point someone towards hope. In short, I ask Him to help me be a good friend. I ask Him to use my words to touch someone’s life… even if it’s just one person, even if it’s 200 years from now, or on the other-side of the world! So you see, just the very fact that you are here reading my words right now is an answer to prayers! And one that I am so thankful for. 

So to all my friends and family, near and far away, I want to say:

YOU are a blessing! And today, and every day, I thank my God for YOU!