Wednesday, April 4, 2012

Thankful Thursday: I’m thankful for the mistakes

Last week Sarah @ The Fontenot Four said something on her vlog for Andi & Ashley's Girl Behind the Blog series that I can’t stop thinking about.

Sarah was talking about what it really means to give thanks.  

She reminds us how important it is to be thankful in ALL things…to be thankful for the hard times…the really challenging times.  

She challenges us to think about that particular hard season we may be in right now and ask ourselves what we can be thankful for in that situation.  

She reminds us that God has equipped us to get through that particular situation and to come out on the other side.   

give thanks in all circumstances, 
for this is God's will for you 
in Christ Jesus. 
1 Thessalonians 5:18

I think often that I’m thankful for my kids, my AWESOME husband, my family & friends.  But what about the things that got me to this place?  

What about the “mistakes” that I made along the way?  Perhaps those “mistakes” got me here.  

Where would I be if that road was easier or I did things differently?

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I think back to my first love.  He taught me what being loved looked like.  I think back to my broken heart when it ended.  I am grateful that I learned that true feeling even through heartbreak so I recognized it clearly when I met the man who would become my husband.

I am grateful for a…shall we say…unsavory character for a boyfriend a bit later down the road.  He showed me what I will never stand for again and what to look out for as my daughter gets older. 

I am thankful I came home from the “typical” college experience and went to night school instead.  During that time I learned what it was like to balance working in an adult office environment, study for college classes and pay my own bills.  I know that if God forbid I ever need to “do it all myself” again I am capable.

Moving away from everything and everyone I’ve ever known when I married my husband was one of the hardest if not the hardest thing I've ever done.  I thought I was independent and strong before that but what I realized is that it is easy to be independent and strong when you are surrounded by close friends and your entire family.  What proves it is when you can persevere when you feel more alone than you ever have. 

Thank you God for all the hard things…they brought me to this moment with this life with these people.  

I am so beyond thankful.  

I am so beyond blessed. 



The Fontenot Four

7 comments:

  1. This is so true. It is easy to be thankful when things are going well. My husband went back to school at the age of 50 to become a licensed massage therapist. Financially, that was very challenging, and even though he has been out for 2 years, and has his own business, it is still challenging. Those times really taught me to rely on God in a way that I hadn't had to before. I can't say I'll be displeased if our finances get lots better, but if they don't I have learned that that is OK too - because God is in control and he never takes the wrong road. thanks for the reminder!

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  2. I love this post! Thank you so much for the mention and for linking up with me! :)

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  3. Wonderful post! One of the biggest blessings in my life was when all my hair fell out 32 years ago. It was a very painful time but God used it for SUCH a joyful blessing in my life it is DEFINITELY up there as my Top 5 things to be thankful for. It has truly molded me into who I am today.

    Found you through Sarah's Thankful Thursday link-up.

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  4. Could not agree more with everything here.
    Without the mistakes and the sadness, we'd never recognize success or joy, right?! Love it.

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  5. Oh my gosh.... I LOVE this post! I totally needed this reminder to be thankful in all things! Even if we can't see it in the moment... each and every opportunity/trial/moment is a blessing!

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  6. Lynne! I am so proud of you for supporting your husband through that challenging time. I'm sure it was hard with the unknown. That is the hardest part for me I think. Going through the tough things just wanting to KNOW exactly how everything is going to work out in the end. But just relying on God to say ok this is in your plans do your work...sometimes that is so hard!

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  7. Kate, wow WHAT an outlook you have and I admire that so much! What better way to look at it? There isn't a better way in my opinion! It seems like you HAD to of been SUCH an encouragement to people! That is AWESOME!!!!

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