Thankfulness

It's amazing how much I take things for granted.  This week has been a good lesson in remembering to give thanks.

As you may have noticed, the past week was very busy.  Friday was the worst.  Thursday, I worked until almost 12:30 to try to get ahead on my schoolwork because I knew this weekend would be busy.  Then, I got up at 4:45 to get ready, because Paul was picking Angelina and I up at 5:30 a.m. for a trip to the airport to meet a colleague's 6:30 a.m. flight.  Neither Angelina nor I are morning people, and Paul is always teasing us for it.  However, roles were reversed on Friday.  Paul hadn't had his coffee yet :)  Angelina and I were chatty as anything and I found out that life is really funny on four hours of sleep.  She and I gabbed the entire trip to the airport, interrupted by Paul's groans at the traffic, even at the wee hours of the morning.

By the time we made it to the airport, Paul headed straight for the first coffee kiosk with no looking back!  However, he did buy Angelina and I hot drinks as well :)  Paul subsequently headed over to the seats in the waiting area of Terminal 3, expecting us to follow.  However, Angelina and I did not do anything directly that morning.

First, I needed sugar.  Paul looked at me in shock.  "Sugar???  It's a caramel latte!  It's already sweetened!"  I took a sip.  "Nope.  Still need sugar."

So, Angelina and I walked back for sugar.

Then, we got stopped by a man wanting advice on which train to take to central London, the underground or the National Express or Heathrow Express or....Poor man.  We both answered at the same time, and he just looked confused.  Besides, English wasn't his first language.  We did slow down and take turns and eventually get him headed in the right direction.  We continued on our way to join Paul, who was waiting patiently (well, sort of) for us to catch up.  Angelina stopped behind me.  "Wait, Hope, did you dye your hair?  It's darker!"  I had just dyed it the other day (It's not much darker, just a bit.  There are a few grays that are starting to show!  That's a whole 'nother story.)  So, we chatted about my hair, not realizing that we stopped walking to do so.  I glanced up to see Paul's somewhat glazed expression as he just turned and walked ahead without us.  We caught up to him and joined him in sitting to wait for our friend's now delayed flight.

He shook his head.  "You just talked for five minutes about hair."  We had a good laugh.  He still doesn't get it.

(Paul is just making a face!  He did enjoy the morning)

Our friend arrived and we fulfilled the customary tradition of going out to breakfast.  Having been the recipient of this generous offer, I sometimes wonder if we are selfish in doing this.  The poor traveller has often just had an overnight flight from North America and is just feeling blessed to be on solid ground and would rather not eat a greasy full English.  (Full English breakfasts include eggs, sausage, toast, baked beans, and blood pudding along with the worst coffee ever.  I am not a fan.)  

 
After breakfast, we had to head our separate ways.  I caught a bus, rather two, from Heathrow to meet another colleague to do some grocery shopping for our "social" that evening.  After I tapped my Oyster (bus pass) on the reader, the bus started to pull away.  I lost my balance and stepped hard on my left foot, which is of course, the foot that was hurting.  Not good.  Thankfully, it was mid day, and I was able to get a seat and sit for the hour and half I travelled.  The rest of the day passed in a blur of shopping and getting ready for the social, chatting with everyone as they arrived and just enjoying the time together.

The early morning caught up with me as the evening carried on.  Angelina and I were traveling in the same direction, and I think we got on a 10:40 train.  The train's next stop was Wembley Station, where Take That had just finished a concert.  Suddenly the tube had breathing room only and it stayed that way until Oxford Circus, where we both changed tube lines.  Angelina got the Victoria and I got the Central, and unfortunately had to stand.  Fortunately, from my station I can catch a bus that stops very near my house.  By the time I fell into bed, I was exhausted.

The next day, Paul told me to use my judgement but to take it easy on my foot.  I was to be helping with an evangelism event my church was doing at our local park, but I just couldn't.  So, I stayed home, worked on some other projects on my computer and most of all, kept ice on my foot.

But this post is about thankfulness.  So I'd like to share some of the things I've been reminded of in that regard.  After all, we are to give thanks in everything (1 Thessalonians 5:18).  There is so much I forget to appreciate.

1. Buses: When my foot hurts, I can take a bus.  I have the finances to make that choice, and the transportation is available as well.
2. Housemates: When I came home on Wednesday with my sore foot, Laura picked me up from the train station, and she and Joanne heated up dinner for me and brought it to me so I could stay with my foot propped up.
3. Water: We've had a bit of a mess getting our water bill sorted out.  We recently changed who paid the water bill at our house, and the company decided to revaluate our bill.  The first agent we talked to assigned us a water bill that was insane.  When we called back, the second agent told us that the first agent had assumed a water use typical to that of a 6 person family!  We now have that sorted, but all of it has reminded me how thankful I am for readily available, clean water.
4. Skype: I'm so thankful for the ease of talking with family and friends.
5. Sight: I had one of those frustrating moments when I had already taken out my contacts but didn't know where I had placed my glasses!  But, I'm so thankful that I have corrective lenses and that I have vision!
6. Mobility: I've been annoyed by my foot, but it's reminded me how blessed I am to have typically very good health and be able to move around without giving it a second thought.
7. Medicine: Joanne has been struggling with her sinuses, I've had my foot issues, and the other day I started to get a headache.  I frequently have bad headaches and migraines, but thankfully this headache went away quickly.  However, I was reminded of how I can buy a packet of 16 tablets of ibuprofen for 30p (less than 50 cents) at the grocery store.  

These are only seven things, but I could continue in my listing, and I'm certain you could do your own list as well.  Even as I wrote, I was thinking, "God has been good to me."  But then I stopped myself.  I'm not sure that is the right perspective.  Yes, God has been good to me.  But I shouldn't only thank God for being good to me.  God is good.  That doesn't change with my circumstances.  I need to remember that He is good to me regardless of how things are going.  It reminds of the refrain used in church services:

Leader: God is good.

Congregation: All the time.

Leader: All the time.

Congregation: God is good.


Always be joyful. Never stop praying. Be thankful in all circumstances, for this is God’s will for you who belong to Christ Jesus.  I Thessalonians 5:16-18