Another weekly assignment from my Niece’s Christmas gift…If you could thank anyone,who would you thank and why?

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I am generally a very thankful person and have always made an effort to thank people for their kindness and the help they brought along my journey.  In thinking about this question, the ones below stand out as those that brought significant changes in my life.

A few years, ago I was talking my Rabstor (rabbi+pastor) of the congregation I was attending about fathers and or lack of them.  I told him I had one step-father who tried to fill the void and although he later left, he was there for 10 years.  From the time I was 3 until I was 13, he was the only father figure in my life.  He was a hard working man, doing mostly construction labor, but every penny he made he gave to support my mom and her three children.  During this discussion with my Rabstor, he asked me if I ever thanked him.  Since he left when I was 13, I thought I probably had not.  So the next week, I penned a long letter thanking him and acknowledging the sacrifices he made for us (me) and sent it.  Whether he received it I am not sure, but it never came back.  He would often call me on my birthday but the letter was never mentioned.

This is a weird one, but I thank my ex and the US Air Force.  Even though it was a foolish young and backward way of thinking, the fact that we married young and left that small town in Texas probably was the beginning of me seeing the world with broader eyes. The ex took me away from a situation that could have buried me in the same place and the Air Force gave us stability and took us places from the most south easterly state to the most north westerly state, and to developing countries overseas.  I met people from all parts of the country and varied backgrounds, people who challenged my southern way of thinking and people who made me grateful for it. The Air Force also brought stability to our lives, financially, structurally and emotionally. It was a good life and I have many fond memories of the places we lived.

Without a doubt, one I am eternally thankful to is Chris, my husband of 40 years. First and foremost, for loving me and my sons; for providing stability, for his hard work, for his generosity to others, for his optimism that never seems to fade, for loving me even when I was unlovable and never giving me reason to doubt that love.  His love has helped me to trust again and not fear rejection or loss.

Lastly, everyday I thank God for the big things and the small things in life.  I thank him for provision, for showing me again and again that He is ever present.  I thank him for the blue sky, for the peacefulness and beauty after the snow, for the multitude of flowers, for the people He has put on my path to help through this journey. He arranged reconnections that brought parts of my family back together and chance meetings of friends in the most unlikely places.   I thank him for the basics of life, even warm showers.  I thank Him that even though I toss and turn in my doubts, He never has given up on me.  

“Thankful that in this ever changing world there are some things that remain the same and bring balance to my life. Day and night rise and fall;  the seasons change,  sunshine comes after rain, young people still fall in love, children are born and the old pass away.  There is a rhythm and flow to life that encourages me to tune out the noise and remind myself I am not in control of these things but a never changing God is and He never forgets to take care of the details.” ~ Me 11/ 15/ 2021