Being Thankful

Today is the Monday after Thanksgiving 2018.  Truthfully, it was pretty much the same as many of the Thanksgivings I've celebrated.  You know the drill....turkey, stuffing, mashed potatoes, cranberry sauce, green beans...and the list goes on.  My sister-in-law hosted...again.  Her house is large and we had over 20 people there!  My small house couldn't handle it. 

This year was special though, as we also celebrated my father-in-law's 90th birthday!  It was a wonderful day and he is an incredible man.  After we had eaten, and after he had opened all of his presents, he made a little speech.  He said that after 90 years, he knew he did something right when he looks around and sees his family.  4 children, 14 grandchildren and 1 great-grandchild.  He talked about how when he was younger, he would look in the mirror every morning and say to himself "Do your very best today".  And then, at the end of the day, he would return to the mirror after contemplating his day and say, "you DID do your very best today".  The thing about this little speech was....no one was listening.  After he had opened the last present, everyone returned to their conversations.  Some returned to the football game on T.V.  But I was listening.  He made me tear up.  What a special man.  My husband and his siblings have no idea how incredibly blessed they are to still have BOTH of their parents.  They just celebrated 65 years of marriage.  They are both 90 years old and going strong...albeit slightly slower. 

My father died when I was 17.  I miss him just as much today as I did 36 years ago.  My mom died in 2006, I was 41. I'm 53 now....parentless.  My only sibling, my sister, died in 2015.  I feel like I'm orphaned.  Yes, I have a loving husband and 3 children who I adore.  I have extended family and many friends who I love as if they were family.  But, there is something missing in my life.

As I contemplate the things I'm thankful for in this holiday season, I don't want to lose sight of my many blessings.  Today, I am most thankful for this family that I married into....specifically my husband's parents.  I have no idea how much longer I'll have with them, but I will enjoy each and every moment.  Life circumstances took my parents way too young, but God has allowed me two beautiful people to step into their shoes for the last 21 years of my life.  I couldn't be more grateful.