Hi, friends. Most of you have been around long enough to see my posts embracing vulnerability and being open about my struggles as a handicapped person. Today’s post, on the other hand, gives thanks for both my large and small blessings.

Especially in a first-world country, it is sooo easy to take our technology and privilege and convenience for granted. I’m starkly reminded of this when I have to live without one of those conveniences for any amount of time. When the Wi-Fi stops working, I realize how much we rely on the internet for work, entertainment, and more. Living in rural NC, I’ve experienced power outages during hurricane season and pipes freezing in the winter. Going without power and water for days on end practically feels like an apocalyptic scenario, and I’m never so grateful as when I get either of those back after losing it.

On a recent morning, as I brushed my teeth–starting to feel rejuvenated as my icky-morning-breath-germy-mouth flooded with the sensation of minty freshness–I randomly thought to myself how thankful I am for toothpaste. I keep a Google Doc of blog ideas, and I immediately sought out my phone, opened the document, and typed as a bullet point, “Thank you, Lord, for toothpaste.”
On the day of writing this rough draft, I had been reading a few blogs and thinking that I would write a draft soon. As I perused, a news article popped up in the Reader–“Samorra is looking for her Forever Family.” The photo featured an adorably-chubby, middle-school-aged girl with a big, sweet smile. I opened the post and read a few sentences in which she described herself as calm, nice, and a hard worker. Then I got to this quote–
I am thanking God for waking me up this morning. And just having clothes on my back and shoes on my feet, and having a roof over my head. I will be really happy if I went to a forever home because I will be responsible to do what I am supposed to do and I would thank God, get on my knees and pray, and go to church and praise the Lord every single day.
Y’ALL. I CANNOT. 😭

The Holy Spirit instantly put the thought in my mind to write out this post, so here I am. Recently, I complained about my living situation and my limitations, and while throwing a pity party sometimes is totally normal and possibly cathartic, instances like this remind me of my infinite blessings. I might complain about my family, but how would I feel if I didn’t have one?
Does anyone remember the old Golden Corral commercials with the tiny, flying chef who whacked people’s heads with a frying pan? I feel like the Spirit did that to me today.
So, “Thank you, Lord, for toothpaste” is my new mantra. The phrase is a synecdoche (fancy literary term) that will serve as a reminder that I always have a million and one reasons to feel gratitude.
Thanks for reading! What are you thanking God for today? Please join me in praying that Samorra finds a loving “forever family.”
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