Thursday
Nov232006
Grateful There Are No Bumper Stickers
Thursday, November 23, 2006 at 10:54PM
When this first article started coming to my mind, I wanted to name it “Bumper Sticker Theology.� My thinking was along the lines of “Have you hugged your (fill in the blank) today.� I think it came out around the same time as the one that says “My child is an honor student at…� followed by “My child beat up your honor student.�
The thought was that I would give you some ideas of how to fill in the blanks, based on things we took for granted before moving to a third world country. Some possibilities are:
Hot water heater (that works on a daily basis)
“No smoking� restaurants
Dishwasher
Emissions Control workers
Clothes Dryer
These are just of few of the things that we never thought about, but now think about frequently in their absence.
However, we are finding that having a family of four full-time students doesn’t always make it easy to get out monthly newsletters, and therefore determined that this month’s would be a “Thanksgiving� edition and our next one would come sometime over the Christmas/New Year holiday and would also serve the purpose of being our yearly Christmas letter. So I decided to take these thoughts in a different direction and use them to express our new perspective of gratitude.
There are many things that make life easier that we were never thankful for in the States. I’m not going to say that I wouldn’t love to have a clothes dryer or a dishwasher. I’m not going to say that I don’t wish I could go to a restaurant and eat non-smoke flavored food. I’m certainly not saying that I’m not hoping that the government will wake up and do something about the incredible pollution issue. So, what am I saying?
I’m thankful.
I’m thankful for what I have.
I’m thankful for the majority of our boxes that have come.
I’m thankful for the wonderful home that God has provided for us.
I’m thankful for the new friends, Mongolian and English-speaking, that we are meeting and getting to know.
I’m thankful for technology like Skype, Instant Messaging and email that allow me to stay so connected to my faithful friends and family back home.
I’m thankful for good restaurants, even if they are smoking.
I’m thankful I don’t have to eat out of a dumpster.
I’m thankful my children don’t have to live in the streets and beg for food or money.
I’m thankful my children have parents to hug them.
I’m thankful that my husband didn’t choose a bottle over his family.
I’m thankful that I had the opportunity to hear the Gospel sooner rather than later.
I’m thankful that I can begin and end everyday with my relationship with my Creator, my Savior and my King.
I’m thankful for the privilege of serving Him in many capacities over the past 20-something years.
I’m thankful for each of you that take the time to read our newsletters and website, and especially for those of you who take what you read and pray.
I’m thankful for that I have a future and a hope (Jeremiah 29:11)
I’m thankful that this life isn’t all there is and that we can look forward to a city whose Builder and Architect is God (Heb. 11:10)
Last, and least, I’m thankful that I decided to take a “thankfulness� perspective instead of pursuing “bumper sticker theology� because it has left me much more encouraged. Count your blessings this Thanksgiving holiday – literally. Maybe even take the advice of the old hymn and “name them one by one.� It’s worth the time.
The thought was that I would give you some ideas of how to fill in the blanks, based on things we took for granted before moving to a third world country. Some possibilities are:
Hot water heater (that works on a daily basis)
“No smoking� restaurants
Dishwasher
Emissions Control workers
Clothes Dryer
These are just of few of the things that we never thought about, but now think about frequently in their absence.
However, we are finding that having a family of four full-time students doesn’t always make it easy to get out monthly newsletters, and therefore determined that this month’s would be a “Thanksgiving� edition and our next one would come sometime over the Christmas/New Year holiday and would also serve the purpose of being our yearly Christmas letter. So I decided to take these thoughts in a different direction and use them to express our new perspective of gratitude.
There are many things that make life easier that we were never thankful for in the States. I’m not going to say that I wouldn’t love to have a clothes dryer or a dishwasher. I’m not going to say that I don’t wish I could go to a restaurant and eat non-smoke flavored food. I’m certainly not saying that I’m not hoping that the government will wake up and do something about the incredible pollution issue. So, what am I saying?
I’m thankful.
I’m thankful for what I have.
I’m thankful for the majority of our boxes that have come.
I’m thankful for the wonderful home that God has provided for us.
I’m thankful for the new friends, Mongolian and English-speaking, that we are meeting and getting to know.
I’m thankful for technology like Skype, Instant Messaging and email that allow me to stay so connected to my faithful friends and family back home.
I’m thankful for good restaurants, even if they are smoking.
I’m thankful I don’t have to eat out of a dumpster.
I’m thankful my children don’t have to live in the streets and beg for food or money.
I’m thankful my children have parents to hug them.
I’m thankful that my husband didn’t choose a bottle over his family.
I’m thankful that I had the opportunity to hear the Gospel sooner rather than later.
I’m thankful that I can begin and end everyday with my relationship with my Creator, my Savior and my King.
I’m thankful for the privilege of serving Him in many capacities over the past 20-something years.
I’m thankful for each of you that take the time to read our newsletters and website, and especially for those of you who take what you read and pray.
I’m thankful for that I have a future and a hope (Jeremiah 29:11)
I’m thankful that this life isn’t all there is and that we can look forward to a city whose Builder and Architect is God (Heb. 11:10)
Last, and least, I’m thankful that I decided to take a “thankfulness� perspective instead of pursuing “bumper sticker theology� because it has left me much more encouraged. Count your blessings this Thanksgiving holiday – literally. Maybe even take the advice of the old hymn and “name them one by one.� It’s worth the time.
Reader Comments (1)
[...] Renee’ made a pretty good list of the things we are truly grateful for in her Blog below. I just wanted to add a few more things - some quite similar, some a little different, all can be found in our newsletter. We are so glad to know where every gift comes from. [...]