A heart of gratitude goes a long way and words of thankfulness can encourage and empower those around us. We forget often to think back on the goodness of life and those that were along the way in each part of journey. So this is a simple but deeply, heart-felt thank you to all those that have loved me, supported me, and impacted my life in some way, whether small or large.
Mom and Dad:
Thank you for giving me life. You brought me into a home; a home that gave me safety, a curious and creative mind, the ethic of hard work, food on a table and clothes on my back, and the world as my oyster. Even more, thank you for not casting me away in my hardest and darkest years, you know those “goth punk” years. That took a lot to keep trying to understand me in those times, so thank you. Also, thank you for standing by me in this crazy life I chose of saying yes to God even though it doesn’t make sense most times – you still are always in my corner even when my corner is confusing or the dots aren’t getting connected. Thank you for letting me be who I am and believing in me.
Chandra:
My big sister, who always has shown me how to love life and enjoy the moments around me, thank you. Without you I would have not opened my mind to the vastness of the world at the young age I did. You have always been a dreamer and that helped me not feel like a misfit when I realized I was a dreamer too. Thank you for being you, for being adventurous and spontaneous, it’s been a great teacher to the more methodical/logical side of my brain. Life wouldn’t be as rich without you in it!
Shannon and Tracey:
Where do I begin? The love you have shown me since the day I showed up in your youth room surpasses what I ever expected from church. In all my mess and hard questions you stuck by me. When I sat in your office or came to your house in tears, you never left the room. When I had hardly been following Jesus for five minutes you were empowering me to speak, pray, prophecy, to walk in who I was. Your immediate embrace of love and support still blows me away and I am experiencing the fruit of it even today. A thank you just doesn’t seem enough but it’s all I have, so thank you for seeing me.
Pastor Roy and Cheri:
I have traveled the world and America and met people from all different backgrounds and I realize more and more how honored I am that my first experience of pastors was you. You have shown me the true meaning of leadership, integrity, faith, and how hope and beauty can come from pain and struggle. There is no amount of words that could express who you are to me and what you have meant. Mostly, thank you for loving me like your own and fighting for me to keep going. You have always believed in me and trusted my heart and dreams and I am learning that that is rarity to find in today’s world.
Linda:
“Just be creative” — I never knew that those words would be the building blocks of a relationship I can’t imagine life without. I am in tears just thinking of my thankfulness for you. Thank you for showing me what a powerful woman looks like; you have shown me that over the years in the way you love your family, the authority and faith you carry, the pursuit of your dreams and desires, and in the moments when you spoke direct truth into my brokenness and frustrations. I know that you will always be cheering me on and I hope you know that I am cheering you on to. It’s not easy to find solid, genuine people – and you are one — and I am so thankful I found you!
Christian Assembly:
When I first starting coming to Christian Assembly, I had no idea what was happening around me (being a person that had never seen or heard of miracles, Holy Spirit, worship, etc) but I knew there was passion. You as a body have inspired me, challenged me, fought with me, and supported me. Getting to be a part of your lives can be credited with so much of where I am now in life. No matter where I go geographically you will always be a home to me, a family that I can lean on and find encouragement from. Thank you for letting me into your homes and families, for trusting me and equipping me to understand better how to live a life of obedience to Jesus in a real and genuine way.
Family & Friends:
To my family, beyond any word I could speak, thank you. Some of my best times in life have been spent with you. I continually brag wherever I go about those good times, four wheelin’, shooting guns, playing cards, bonfires and hayrides, and just the simplicity of being together. On the list of things I am grateful for in life you all are way up there. I could not have asked for a better family. My heart wells up with pride for you all.
To my friends, you are a special breed. We aren’t bonded together by blood but in spirit. We have helped shape one another into the people we are today and loved each other through our differences. As I write this I think of all of you, memories flashing through my head, the belly laughs, crazy road trips, honest tears, and hours we would spend talking about life and its meaning. Thank you for wanting to have those deep conversations, for challenging the normal, and for laughing our way through the unknowns of life. This thank you stretches over the vastness of the earth to everyone I have loved and met along the way to those that I have known for years: It’s an honor to call you friend.
This list could go on and on and I hope you know that even if you weren’t mentioned by name in this it doesn’t mean I haven’t thought of you. Maybe this blog is silly, I don’t normally write in this way or theme but I think we need to be thanking one another for the goodness we have brought into each other’s lives.
Furious Love 