Safe Place

If someone were to ask me my favorite time of the year, it would be the last three months of the year. The changing leaves, the cold wind, the damp and rainy days, the warmth of family and friends, the incredible Thanksgiving feast, the Christmas spirit, the holiday baking... I could go on all day.

It's just truly magical to me. I hope that feeling never ever changes.

As Thanksgiving approaches, I want to thank Jesus for a few special things that have meant a lot to me recently.

One of those blessings is "my favorite Aunt Jan" as I like to call her. I love to think of the story that brought her and I together to be close friends. I always grew up knowing Aunt Jan from church. She was so sweet back then; I never remember a bad thing about her. But time went on and I didn't get to see her very much. Last fall, her husband died. I can't imagine her pain--he was her eyes, her everything on this earth. 

Since she lived by herself, I told her I would try to stay the night with her sometime. Time would go by and I would see her again and *sheepishly* mention the idea of spending the night with her. In all honesty, I felt bad for mentioning it and never doing it. Finally, one day I went over there and stayed with her. I didn't really know her too well but we had a nice conversation that lasted late into the evening. The next morning, I quietly packed my stuff and left early to grab coffee with my brother and sister.

Several days later, I was sitting on my couch one morning before work and God started talking to me. He told me to mention spending another night to Aunt Jan. Somewhat reluctantly, I called her and asked if she wanted company. She did. 

Guys. That changed my life. From that point on, I began to stay at her house weekly. We built a really close bond and she became the older, wiser friend that I needed. She's so precious to me! Her ability to listen to my problems and advise me was so wonderful. And the good news? She still does it. I still have my frequent visits with Aunt Jan. I have a room in her house that I call mine. She knows that I love her nut mix and scrambled eggs. (They truly are amazing!) It's one of those unexpected life blessings that you never saw coming but so appreciate.

I was so thankful I called her that day. It's changed my life.

>If you've made it to this point in my spill, I really respect you! Hang in there :P 

Another blessing I am thankful for is my health. Most days that we live, we take for-granted. We forget that every breath is given by God. We forget that we could very easily lose the ability to walk or talk.

I had some rough health issues this year and it really gave me perspective.

I felt the crippling fear and shear anxiety of the unknown. 

I felt the deep, inward pain of dealing with negative emotions and thoughts. Thoughts of complete failure, the lies that it was all fake. I never understood those profound feelings before, but they are incredibly real. 

Yet, I also experienced the peace of God that carried me through some really dark, frightening moments. I am thankful for the many friend and family members that prayed for me. It was humbling, yet wonderful to be so cared for.
I appreciate the songs that carried me through when I didn't feel like I had the energy to pray like normal. One of my songs that I held onto was "Safe Place" by Laney Rene.

So I am mostly thankful for that "safe place"--the shelter in the storm, the wings that carry us above the tempest, the rock in the billows, the friend that never leaves.

I just need to thank God for being so kind. Why I have such a wonderful life is a mystery...I don't deserve such a great existence. 

Happy Thanksgiving, people! God is so so good. All the time.