Happy thanksgiving!
It’s difficult to be thankful at times, but we must. I have a difficult time do this at times, although I have a lot to be thankful for like a Job, two in fact. I am in good health overall, but my mental health continues to take a toll on me. I have a my wife Delia and daughter Mikaylah who are healthy as well.
This time last year, was difficult as I was still fairly new in my job, having had a terrible year in the job market and I was at that point my worst possible point in mental health.
This year was better than, but still not as great as I struggled financially to recover from last year, but the scars are still there and today. Sadly, I cannot shake this feeling and its hard to force myself to be thankful.
I am gravely conflicted as I look to the words from 1 Thessalonians 5:16-18, Rejoice always, Pray continually, give thanks in all circumstances for this is GOD’s will for you in Christ Jesus.
I ask myself, how I can be thankful each day when I feel my life and my family’s life teeter totters in the balance financially as I am the holder of the purse and have done what I can to do my best, but have failed at times, even today. The thought of self-destruction continues to haunt me each day, as I search a way out and to give my family what they deserve a father and husband who is deserving of them, I am not him.
I know that people go through far worse things than I do, and they are still thankful and all I can say is its supernatural in their thankfulness, because frankly how could people have Joy during times like major illnesses, thinking of children who are suffering with horrible sickness like Cancer as I think of those St. Jude commercials.
During these times, I feel really affect many as they look around and try to self-reflect on what they are thankful for and all I can say is there are a lot stronger people then me out there in the world, so what see my troubles as trivial.
One can say being thankful is a choice, I need to choose to be thankful and think of the good in my life today, look to JESUS and how he wants me to be. I pray GOD fills me with the spirit of thanksgiving this season to know what is important in this life and not focus on those things that don’t matter. When I look around I see the country and world in turmoil and it hurts me to see this, although Jesus warned us all, but its difficult to see it come to fruition especially when I have a daughter who is only 11 growing up in this world and its only gotten more nasty and I ask how can I be thankful for that. Yes it’s a sign the end of times is coming, and although I am not prophet, no nothing of what the end will look like Jesus knows, but it could days, weeks and years, maybe even decades and centuries before Jesus comes back and claims Us.
One thing is for sure about this day is the history of its existence between some of the first pilgrims and indigenous people who at first formed an alliance for military reasons and then over time learned from each other. I love how Abraham Lincoln in 1863 made his Thanksgiving proclamation giving birth to the holiday.
Thankfulness has and is apart of our country and culture today and I am sure many Christians like me practice thanksgiving as preachers preach on the importance of it. I agree its important, but some one like me can be difficult, as my mind tends to think only of what I don’t have to be okay.
At the end of the day, I am thankful for my wife, daughter, Sister, father, brother-in-law, heck even the pets in my life of the people in my life.
God bless all of you during this week and season
Joe Meyers Adventures 