I know that this question is not normally asked at this time year. We always attribute it to Thanksgiving Day. But shouldn’t we always be asking ourselves this?

For some it is really easy to answer. To those looking from the outside it looks like they have truly had a blessed life. A life filled with hope and happiness and no terrible tragedy to speak of. People who have died have done so because they have gotten older.

But for so many this is not the case. I look at the tornadoes that came crashing through towns the other day and completely obliterating them as they were in its path. You think not only of all the people who died as a result but all the destruction left behind.

Then I think of our beloved Mari. Her sudden illness which ultimately took her life rocked our worlds upside down. We were left with the destruction this illness brought about. Her death still affects us. Anyone who knew her it has affected them somehow.

It’s amazing what tragedy can do to someone. It kind of reminds me of a tornado. It comes out of no where, barrels down it’s path laying waste to all it’s left behind and then just disappears just as quickly as it came. Unfortunately, the destruction is still left behind in the wake.

The deep hole that has been left by the loss of Mari goes deep. It will always be there. However, through this tragedy we become stronger. We become who God wants us to be as we are all a part of His plan.

People sometimes don’t understand how God could allow such awful things to happen. I, myself, don’t always understand. I mean, I still don’t understand His logic for bringing her home when He did. However, we have to remember He has a plan. A plan that is much bigger, so much greater than we could ever possibly understand. We could ever possibly comprehend. I always say, “More than my little pea brain could grasp.”

I may not understand in this lifetime but I know in my heart God knows best. He knows me and what my body, my mind, my emotional stability can truly handle.

What we have to remember is we simply cannot do this on our own. You have to learn to completely, 100% lean on Him. Have Him be your rock, your solid foundation.

I know I would not be where I am today if I didn’t have Jesus in my life. So back to my original question, “What do we have to be thankful for?” Well, for me it is obvious. I have a relationship with Christ. He is guiding me and protecting and I am continue living each day. He knows when I am missing Mari the most and I am thankful He lifts me up and protects me in the most important times.

So what about you? What are you thankful for?