“Thankful, thankful.”
It’s not really a sentence but it’s something my mom said often. It stood alone. It set a wonderful example for me.
What it meant was what it sounds like of course. But the context defines its depth. This was uttered after tragedies like my dad’s heart surgeries or her own elderly traumas. About six months before she went to be with the Lord she totaled her car, and someone else’s, by running a stop sign near my house. When I was helping her fill out the police report her analysis was “I didn’t stop because I didn’t see anyone else coming.” But then she just volunteered all the things there were to be thankful in the situation: yes her face was black and blue, but nothing broken. Yes the cars were totaled, but she had insurance and the other driver didn’t have a scratch. Yes she had run a stop sign, but she was just ticketed for that, her license was not revoked. (Which you can see it should have been. She did little driving after this, though.)
You may have heard people answer “How are you?” with “better than I deserve!” to make a point, but this was my sweet mommy’s genuine attitude and mindset. She really had no expectations, and so she was literally thankful for everything.
“My blood pressure is up but my neighbor who is a doctor is coming every day to check on it for me. Isn’t that wunnnnnerful? Thankful, thankful.”
“I can’t find my bank papers, but I know my money is safe. If I can’t find them, no one else can either! I have good resources for my age that are in the bank! Thankful, thankful.”
“Oh does my foot ache! I just want the trumpet to blow it hurts so badly….and I had terrible dreams last night which Doctor Dave says is from my medicine. But today is my last day taking it! And when I woke up I listened to David Jeremiah and it was sooooooooooo good! When the trumpet blows I’ll be with the Lord! Thankful, thankful.”
The last three years of my life have been the hardest by far. There has been much loss and sorrow. But as if for the first time, listening to all the news, seeing all the problems big and small, strife everywhere….. I remembered my mother saying “thankful, thankful.” And I just realized it’s a choice. By Gods grace I can always be thankful, first and foremost for the cross:
Perfect man to beat my blame
On the cross he took my sin
By his death I live again.”
And this truth enables, even in the mundane, a mindset that there is always something to be thankful for. “In everything, give thanks: for this is God’s will for you in Christ Jesus.” 1 Thess 5:18
Today I am thankful for the sunset on a sweltering day in a town that yes, I have always wanted to leave for the countryside…. but which has been a lovely home for my family for 26 years! Thankful, thankful.
Downtown Wheaton September sunset
I am thankful for my siblings (especially after the loss of both my parents) and the special surprise of a sister visit – 5 days long!!! – for my birthday! Thankful, thankful. 
Yes the teen years being expressions like these below, and other challenges as well. Yes I’m sad my babies are growing up… and the seasons change. But the growth is the result of good health and love; they are growing into young men like their father and big brothers who work hard and play hard and follow Jesus. Thankful, thankful.
Budding Teenagers at our hometown pizza place, a booth we have been sitting at for 20 years
