Thankful

I find myself overcome with thankfulness today.  I may not be America but I can still be thankful, right?  As I read my devotions today, as I thought about some things I am thankful for, I found my eyes getting a little wet.

In one month it will be my birthday.  I remember last year, getting together with some dear friends to celebrate my birthday but I wasn't even sure if I'd be able to attend the evening seeing as I was in so much pain and was feeling so ill.  Little did I know then that the pain was due to cancer.  It's been 8 months since my last surgery.  I weighed in at almost 84 lbs last week.  That's a whole lot better than the 77lbs I was at back in April and May.  There are still so many different doctor appointments I have, meds I am taking, and post surgery issues we are trying to deal with but today I am thankful I AM ALIVE!

Psalm 107
"Oh give thanks to the Lord, for He is good.  For his steadfast love endures forever!  Let the redeemed of the Lord say so, whom he has redeemed from trouble." (vs 1-2 ESV)  "Hngry and thirsty, they fainted.  Then they cried out to the Lord in their trouble, and He rescued them from their distresses." (vs 5-6 AMP)

A number of times in this Psalm is says, "Then they cried out to the Lord in their trouble, And He brought them out of their distresses."  I am so thankful that I have a Savior who is my friend.  He was there when all around me it felt dark and lonely and painful and hard.  He didn't leave me nor forsake me.  He was there when I cried out to Him and He rescued me. He brought me out of that valley of the shadow of death.  He has carried me and He continues to do so.

I am thankful for life.  I am thankful for all my family and friends who have walked with me and my family and carried us, prayed for us, fed us, and helped us in this last year.  I am thankful for my husband who has been so selfless and helpful through all of this.  I am thankful for a lot and the list could go on but mostly today I am thankful for LIFE!  For He came to bring LIFE and to bring LIFE to the full.