Daily Bread...and Sometimes Butter

It's Thanksgiving season again...

...and I am so glad. It's been nice to have an excuse to splash some of the gratitude that's been overflowing my heart on everyone around me. You see, this year I was permanently etched on my Father's palm. I have been given, and finally received, the gift of Life. I am exceedingly thankful.

The other day I was having one of those moments where it all came together...life was skip-down-the-hallway sweet and, out of the blue, I shouted, "Thank you for the bread!!" It's ok if you're laughing - I certainly did. I'm not used to shouting out seemingly random phrases when I'm alone, much less in public! And I've never blurted out a sentence thanking God for food I'm not eating.

That's when it hit me. I didn't thank Him for food I wasn't eating. I was overwhelmingly FULL of His bread. In John 6, Jesus said:

"...It is My Father who gives you the true bread out of heaven. For the bread of God is that which comes down out of heaven, and gives life to the world... I am the bread of life; he who comes to Me will not hunger, and he who believes in Me will never thirst."

This year has been incredible, but it has not been easy. I have been broken down beyond my foundation, and am still in the process of being rebuilt from the ground up. I have had to learn how to speak, how to dress, how to be a friend, how to love, how to parent, how to talk to a man without the "aids" of flirtation and manipulation, how to trust, how to forgive myself, how to surrender control of my little kingdom.

But every day, I find my daily bread is waiting here for me.

I've noticed in my life and throughout scripture that God doesn't give us more than we can handle - good or bad. He is a God of balance. He asks us to take just enough for each day and asks us to steward it well. He will provide. He is all we need!

Seriously, He really is ALL WE NEED. Once I accepted and learned to walk in that knowledge, my eyes were opened to all the blessings He allows us to enjoy while we are here on this earth. Our families. Gifted teachers. A new friend to grow with and share His love. That's the butter.

How can I express gratitude for that?? More skipping and shouting!