Things that Matter Most

When I lived at home I took a lot of things for granted. Food. Money. My family was pretty much a built-in convenience of friends. There was always a baby to hold and always someone to talk to. There were always enough hugs to go around and lots of work to be done. Can I just say that I miss it? I miss it. Every time I see a young couple with a baby I have to resist the urge to ask them if I can hold it. It's kind of creepy of me. Today as November and Thanksgiving get so close, I can't stop thinking about all the blessings I do have. Now that I have a job again I got to pay my Tithing for the first time in like 2 months. When I paid my tithing at home, it wasn't a big deal. I could never understand why it was a sacrifice for other people because I was a stupid teenager. But now that my tithing could buy almost 2 weeks worth of groceries, it is an actual test for me to pay it. And I just have to say it's the best feeling ever to know that I can give back in some small way to the Lord after all he has given me. We really are lucky that we have things like tithing to remind us how much we have been given. Today was really amazing because I got to go sit in the visitor's center and look at the Christus for like an hour. It's so nice to be able to live close to so many things that remind me what is really important. I think the thing I'm most grateful for this year is the fact that Christ is there for me. There so many things that I could be scared of in life, but I can honestly say I'm afraid of nothing. I know that with him I can do anything. As it says in Philippians: "I can do all things through Christ which strengtheneth me." I would encourage anyone that reads this to take just a few minutes if that's all you have, and think about all the amazing things that you have to be grateful for.