thankful for water...from the tap & from the sky...

while austin may have his LICENSE to drive, he hasn't secured a steady part-time job yet. and until he does, he's not driving on his own...because he will be responsible for the additional insurance premium :)

soooooo, every morning i drive austin & jordan down to the bus stop at the entrance to our neighborhood and drop them off.


this morning it was raining. jordan had JUST finished her hair and was less than thrilled with the prospect of standing outside waiting for the bus. she would NEVER take an umbrella to school (seriously mom???) and when i suggested that she stand under the overhang of the condos right by the bus stop she said she didn't want to look stupid. so instead, she got out of the car, grumbled and walked away in the rain with her binder on top of her head.

as i watched her walk off, i thought about how blessed she is to be able to stand in the rain waiting for her bus. she's in warm clothes, with a so-so lunch that her mother packed with love. she's headed to a school where she gets a good education that costs us nothing. she has friends and teachers who adore her. she has a warm bed to sleep in when she gets home (and that girl can SLEEP...lol).

i thought how in contrast this is to so many of the young girls (well, old ones too) that i had the privilege to meet during my time in africa. many of these girls don't get to even go to school. and instead of binders on their heads they have buckets of water...that they walk FOR MILES to get. DAILY. whether it's raining or not. and they aren't wearing cute little boots while they're walking. instead of a fashionable little bag slung over their shoulder, they have a toddler on their back.

i'm thankful. so thankful. for everything. EVERYTHING. sometimes it is just soooo easy to focus on what we DON'T have...when what we DO have is everything we NEED, and THEN SOME.

psalm 107:8,9: "Let (us) give thanks to the LORD for his unfailing love and his wonderful deeds for mankind, for he satisfies the thirsty and fills the hungry with good things."

Lord, i pray that in this season of thanksgiving...in this season of feasting & celebrating with our families, that we not forget the privilege it is to be living in this country...even in our roughest times there are so many resources...allow us each opportunities to make a difference in someone's life...whether here or abroad...or both...and let us NEVER stop being thankful for all of your unfailing love & wonderful deeds.