Thankfulness and Need

I love that Thanksgiving precedes Christmas as we take time to realize our blessings in a purposeful way.  Every year we make a "Thankful Tree," that we fill with leaves of written blessings.  It's hard to compare our Salvation to "sparkly clothes," but they're right there on the tree together.  Jesus is the author of all our blessings - a job, and education, a family - and even sparkly clothes. :)

Maybe it's all the cooking in the cool fall weather, but my girls seem to grow out of everything they own about this time.  So we've been shopping the sales for warm winter dresses, jackets, and shoes.  Thankfully, a good friend with good taste gives us bags of clothes every year, so we only have to buy what's missing. :) Grandma loves to come along as she knows our girls will always agree to join her for fast food.  (unlike Grandpa)

Our local shopping area is decorated with lights and is fun to walk around at night.  Big brothers join us  for pizza in between exams.  It's so fun to have the entire family together and hubby likes the male companionship. :)

We persuaded a policeman to take our picture together as someone is always missing from our pictures.

With all these blessings, it's easy to get lost in every day life and forget about so many who are missing the greatest gift of all - a family.   Much is made about medical and education opportunities, activities and material things for our children, but what all children really need is to know that they are loved and not forgotten.  That their hopes and dreams matter to someone.  That someone cares when they are challenged with homework, make the wrong choices, or get hurt on the playground.  That their shoes are too small.  That they are needed and wanted.

That without them, the crucial job of gravy making won't get done. :)

With the increase in older children on the waiting lists, the harsh reality of how many children age out each month hits home.  Our heart breaks for each and every one that we hear about - and there are many more whose names we never know.  But broken hearts aren't enough, and the magnitude of the problem calls for great prayer.  Prayer that God will raise up more willing hearts, that more resources will be available to those who are called to help, and that cultural conditions will improve so that families can stay together and continue to parent their children - both here and abroad.  That we would readjust our considerations of what is truly important and lean more on the provision of God rather than ourselves.  That we would have the heart of Christ and see as He sees.

Blessings,

Kim