Thanksgiving Letter from a Soldier

I received the following letter in an e-mail from a reader, Thomas B. He wrote to all of you in it as well and I wanted to share his inspiring and heartfelt words. As we think about our blessings this year, our freedom is certainly one of the greatest and we owe it to brave men and women like him. Let's take time this Thanksgiving to remember and pray for all of our soldiers and their families.

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I want to wish you, your family, and all your readers a very wonderful, safe, and blessed Thanksgiving. I, along with many others here in Afghanistan, will miss the opportunity to spend this blessed day with our families and loved ones. But, I am there with them, in love, mind, thought and spirit.

Why I Give Thanks For Thanksgiving:

It happens to be one of my favorite holidays and time of the year - it brings a presence and a reminder of all the things we have in this world, the blessings that each and every one of us have, and a great feeling of contentment. It also brings a trait to all of us: GRATITUDE.

Our nation is facing a great struggle at this very moment—and there are a lot of people who are facing a great number of real life difficulties—for example, their jobs, despair, money problems, family problems, and even a sense of their personal safety and security. But even so, we, as brothers and sisters in Christ, have a lot to be thankful for....

I hope all of you can take the time and reflect upon the things that you are grateful for in your lives....from the major things—Our God, our country, your health, your loved ones, your special talents—to the subtle-but-still-important things like your favorite books, friends, fellowship, the beautiful sunsets that you can enjoy for free, chocolate candy, ice cream, pies and cookies!!

I hope that all of you enjoy a warm and love-filled holiday of Thanksgiving this year—and may our loving Heavenly Father fill all of you with His love, His blessings, and His grace.

I GIVE THANKS.......

FOR OUR GOD, OUR CREATOR, OUR HEAVENLY FATHER WHO BLESSES US EACH AND EVERY DAY.....

FOR OUR NATION AND HER PEOPLE, WHO I LOVE WITH EVERY INCH OF MY HEART AND BEING.....

FOR OUR GOVERNMENT AND OUR LEADERS, WHO FACE CRISES EACH AND EVERY DAY.....

FOR OUR NATION'S ARMED FORCES, AS THEY DEFEND AND PROTECT OUR HOMELAND AND THE MANY BLESSINGS AND FREEDOMS THAT WE ENJOY IN OUR LIVES.....

FOR MY FAMILY, MY LOVED ONES WHO I MISS AND LOVE DEARLY WITH ALL MY HEART.....

FOR MY WIFE KATHY, WHO I LOVE, MISS, AND ADORE SO GREATLY.....

FOR MY MANY FRIENDS, WHOM I ALWAYS REMEMBER FONDLY.....

HAPPY THANKSGIVING!

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If you'd like to express your thanks and prayers to Thomas and his family personally, please leave a comment for them here.

Waiting...

It's early Monday morning and I'm waiting in the airport to catch a flight to Texas. I tried taking a picture to post here but all I got was an odd-looking fake tree and a few haggard travelers. Mark and I are sharing a large cup of Starbuck's coffee. I just got lipstick on the rim, which drives him nuts. I had to get up at 5am so I'm feeling grouchy. We'll be fine by 10.

Another reason I'm feeling grouchy is that waiting seems to bring out that side of me. Are you like that too? I have waited for several "flights" in my life--getting married, finding a job, having kids (still in the airport on that one). I once wrote about that and here's part of what I said...

Imagine expecting to arrive in Hong Kong and stepping off your plane to discover you’re in Australia instead. That’s exactly what happened to one woman who boarded the wrong plane at the Los Angeles airport. Due to a computer error, no one knew she took another flight. She got on board, found a seat, and didn’t realize her travel plans had drastically changed until the plane landed in a different country.

All of us experience situations in life like the one described above. You think you’re taking the nonstop flight to your dreams, and next thing you know you’re stranded in a strange land you never intended to visit.  You’re not quite sure how you got there, when you’ll be leaving, or what in the world to do in the meantime.

While you may not be where you want to be, you don’t have to be there alone. And whether or not you chose your detour, you can choose to make it a time of healing and growth that changes the rest of your journey... 

Has anyone else ever feel like they unexpectedly hopped on that flight to Australia? I have!! While waiting may not be my favorite thing to do, I've discovered there can be unexpected blessings in those times. That doesn't make it easier...but it does help to know God is working to make sure I won't be boarding the plane empty-handed when the time comes. 

Wait for the Lord; be strong and take heart and wait for the Lord.
Psalm 27:14 NIV

If you're waiting today, I'm asking God to give you strength, peace, and perseverance. And I'd love for you to share with us here so our little community can pray for you too...

A is for Anxiety

Last night driving home my heartbeat was tap-tap-tapping againt my chest like a crazed woodpecker. I rolled my eyes and thought, "Hello, anxiety, my old friend." And the truth is, anxiety is a long-time companion of mine. As a child it gave me inexplicable stomach aches. The doctors ran tests and finally chalked it up to stress. I used to hide out in the bathroom (not the men's bathroom like I did recently) because being alone and quiet made my anxiety better. I have two small dimples on the inside of my cheeks where I've bitten down on them for years when I get nervous. I sweat when I have intense conversations--positive or negative. I own several books on social anxiety.

Those who know me personally would probably be surprised to hear me say all of this. I sometimes get told, "You seem so calm and like you've got it all together." That always makes me want to burst into laughter (or tears) and never ceases to shock the living daylights out of me.

Through the years my anxiety has gotten a lot better. And, recently, I've begun to even see it as an essential part of who I am. My anxiety may make it hard to walk into a party sometimes...but it also tunes me into everyone there. I've got an emotional thermometer inside me that detects even the slightest shift in mood. That makes me sensitive. It helps me write and counsel. If anxiety is really just our bodies being in "alert" mode then I would miss a lot without it.

Stephen Covey once said, "If you pick up a stick you get both ends." I'm starting to see that my strengths are very closely tied to my weaknesses. For example, sensitivity = strength, anxiety = weakness. But I wouldn't have one without the other. Perhaps it's really just about focusing on the end of the stick that is helpful and letting the other stuff go.

This has been on my mind since last night, and I can't help thinking that one of you needs to hear it. So if it's you, then know that the thing you keep asking God to remove may actually be beautiful in His sight and a part of His plan when you offer it to Him. It's not about eliminating but consecrating...giving all of who we are, as we are, and trusting Him with the rest.

(And if this is for you, please share...I'd love to know I'm not the only one with a few quirks. If I really am the only one then my anxiety will probably go to a whole differrent level--the one where it feels like a hyperactive chihuahua is living in my chest rather than just a little ol' woodpecker.)

I praise you because I am fearfully and wonderfully made. Psalm 139:14