After reading the above title, some of you may be thinking, “Wasn’t Thanksgiving a few months ago?” Well, yes, yes it was. But I want to tell you about my past week, mostly spent in recovery mode following a back injury. Last Saturday night, as I was attempting to stand up I also happened to sneeze...hard. The next thing I knew I was on the floor rolling in severe neurological pain. Those of you who have experienced this know exactly what I am talking about. Any thought of moving the wrong way - in any direction - results in a form of sharp, sudden pain like being stabbed by something medieval style. Instead of further complaining of my week, it occurred to me that I needed to do something radically different: give thanks. The Bible encourages us to “give thanks in all circumstances; for this is the will of God in Christ Jesus for you” (English Standard Version). Notice that it says “all things”, and not “just good things” or “only when I’m feeling like it and doing well.” As a disclaimer, I must confess that this was not the very first thought that jumped into my mind and heart as I lay there on the floor wondering how I was to get off the floor, walk across the room and climb 15 stairs to get to bed. I definitely participated in more than my fair share of grumbling, fussing, and faithless moments throughout this week. The good news is that I didn’t stay there, by God’s grace! When He calls us to give thanks in all circumstances, He also provides the strength to do so. As I thought of how to do this, I was amazed of the multitude of things, big and small, that I have continuously taken for granted before the back injury. Because of this I realized that this week has really been a gift in disquise. At any rate, here’s my list, in no particular order, of what I am giving thanks this week:

For the ability to normally climb 15 stairs
For being able to dress myself - pain free
For being able to put myself in bed without assistance
For being able to take a hot shower, again without assistance
For the consistent availability of electricity that makes my heating pad (and countless other things in my home & life) work
For God’s wisdom to ordain Sunday (day after injury) as a day of rest
For learning that I was missed by friends at church that day (this warmed my heart in a surprising way)
For a personally hand-written note from my pastor telling me that he and his wife were praying for me
For words of encouragement from other crocheters via Facebook
For my sister who has spontaneously unloaded and reloaded my dishwasher this week
For my husband who cheerfully helped do the things I couldn’t do, even on his day off
For children who were willing to take my mom to her medical appointment for me
For the excellent doctors who cared for my youngest son in the emergency room in a timely manner this week (Yes, it has been an exciting week!)
That my son is getting better quickly at home and that he isn't suffering from a chronic or life-threatening disease
For waiting room chairs that were tolerable
For my student driver who cheerfully & safely drove us to the doctor and hospital and pharmacy and grocery store...
For the gift of legal pharmaceuticals that help bring healing
For a vehicle reliable enough to transport us safely where we need to go
For my children who were willing to help me put on my socks and shoes
For being able to find a pain free position at night time which allowed sleep (This was not my experience 8 years earlier and spinal cord surgery was required.)
For being able to tell that my body was slowly improving
For being able to put on my socks all by myself
For being able to cook most nights, and to be able to afford to purchase the food
For the weekend visit by my daughter (who is currently away at college)
For the gift of crochet, which occupied my hands and mind while the rest of my body healed
For the delivery companies who delivered some amazing yarn for a publication project
For the time to complete a couple of crochet projects
For the local pizza companies and their gift of one of the most tasty foods known to mankind
For the world wide internet which allows work and other countless forms of communication to be accomplished from the comforts of a recliner
For being able to worship with my home church, pain free
For the down time to be able to contemplate how seldom I take the time to be thankful for all the blessings I have been given, and the grace to change

Bonnie's Blog

A Week of Giving Thanks...in February?