Tradition holds that Thanksgiving is the time to be with family and share the blessings that we are most thankful for. The Pilgrims did this same thing in 1621. The surviving Pilgrims had much to be thankful for. After their first winter in the New World, only about half survived. A long voyage into unknown territory and a hard winter provided the backdrop for a celebration to thank God for bringing them to that point. Life was not easy for these first Pilgrims. They had experienced much hardship and loss, but they found a way to give the glory to God.
People around the world today are not immune to hardships. We also experience loss - loved ones pass, income declines, friendships die. We've all experienced loss and made it through rough days, weeks, months, and even years. Do we stop and give God the glory that He so deserves? This should be an everyday occurrence, but far too often we take for granted what we have and complain about what we don't. So, in the spirit of Thanksgiving let's remember what truly matters and give the credit to our Father who loves us unconditionally.
You have probably heard the news. Another woman has decided to put family first. Elizabeth Hasselbeck recently announced that she will be leaving Fox News in order to be home with her kids. This woman is putting aside a high-profile career and what I imagine would be a pretty amazing paycheck to be what so many people deride. A mom. To put others needs, wants, and desires above your own. I'm sure this was not an easy decision to make. I've been there. I made the decision to put family first. It was not a simple choice. It was something that kept me up at night. It made my heart thump and my hands shake. Up until the last day of my full-time career I struggled to catch my breath. Was I making the right choice? The effects were clear that first night. Do you know what happened? I slept. I truly slept. I fell asleep with peace on my mind and comfort in my heart. And the next morning I woke with a fierce determination. I would make the most of my newly-found freedom. I would be the mother my children needed and the wife my husband deserved. That day was filled with smiles and laughter. There was a bit of under-lying fear as I was still trying to figure it all out. Because not only was I a full-time Mommy, but I was also a homeschool teacher.
This journey began over three years ago. For three years now I have put the needs of my family first. Some may have said that I was crazy for choosing this road. Some may have said that it was just an experiment - a short-lived desire. Well, maybe it is an experiment, but the results are AMAZING!! Like Elizabeth Hasselbeck, I want to give my children the best of me, not the rest of me.
