This week’s chapter “Thanks for Everything” (in Nancy’s book Choosing Gratitude) was all about getting to the point in our lives where we can honestly begin listing what we are grateful for without having to give it a lot of thought…..
beautiful sunrises
shade on a hot and sunny day
clean sheets
running water
a washing machine
And the list goes on and on and on and on of things that should cause us to stop and simply say, “Thank you, Lord.”
But even deeper in our hearts than any of these items from our day-to-day lives, we should be thankful for spiritual blessings-
God’s nearness
God’s mercy
God’s salvation
God’s calling
And again, the list goes on and on and on!!!
When we begin to look at life with a thankful heart, we begin to realize that even on the toughest day in the toughest season of our journey, God has provided blessing after blessing to make that season something worth saying, “Thank you” about.
Looking back on Nick’s long fight with cancer, I can recall time after time when God provided exactly what our family needed whether it was financial help, emotional help, or simply physical help in the form of a friend bringing dinner or watching our kids for a weekend while we were at the hospital. Even in the darkest hours, God showed up. It was almost as if He was sorry that we had to walk the road we were walking, so He was doing all He could to make it as easy as possible to bear.
I’m thankful that He ALWAYS stepped in and made Himself known even on the most difficult days. I’m thankful for all the friends who allowed God to use them to encourage our family by organizing parades, basketball tournaments, walk-a-thons, birthday parties, and so much more in Nick’s honor.
This afternoon, I subbed at the middle school here in Grayson and two kids were walking down the hall arm-in-arm after lunch and one of them said, “Mrs. Nischan, we are best friends!” I smiled and then told them that I’ve always heard that, in life, if you have one true friend then you are blessed. It was so cute, because as I kept walking towards our classroom I heard one of them who was walking behind me say, “I am blessed.”
I love kids! I’m thankful for these tiny moments in a busy day when I feel as if I’ve maybe made a little difference.
Tonight, I’m thankful for a night of sleep ahead of me.
I will write soon about another book that I am reading, Unafraid-Living God’s Plan on a Ladder and a Promise, by Karen Phillips Goodman. She is doing a blog tour of her book and asked if I would do the month of April! 🙂 I’ll add some links for her book later, too!
I’m thankful for each of you!
Psalm 30:11-12
You turned my wailing into dancing;
you removed my sackcloth and clothed me with joy, that my heart may sing to you and not be silent.
O LORD my God, I will give you thanks forever.
Please have a thankful Thursday!
In December of 2007 as our youngest son, Nick, was fighting brain cancer, I began to blog. Writing provided a way for me to release all of my questions, fears, and doubts. It also allowed me to share the ups and downs of Nick's journey with people who were praying for him all over the world. When Nick went Home in November of 2008, my blog became my way of searching for God in the midst of my deep heartache. My heart was broken and grief brought to the surface every emotion imaginable. Being able to release those emotions through my writing brought a sense of purpose to my pain. Having already walked the road of grief in 1992 when we lost our daughter to SIDS, I knew I needed a way to keep from falling into a pit of depression and despair. I had walked close to the edge of a bottomless pit when we lost our daughter,and I knew I couldn't let myself get that close to the edge again. This blog has been and continues to be my tiny corner of the world where I can share My Heart as I journey through God's Word.......thus the name........ My Heart His Words. Thank you for taking time to share life with me. If we do not meet while here on earth, I look forward to hearing all about your life when we reach our final destiny.........Heaven! Email me anytime at 
It just really struck me when you said today that it was as if God was sorry that you were having to walk the road you were on. I thought “It’s true He was!” Since God never sends bad things as He is always good, the bad comes due to the actions of living in a fallen world, He would be sorry, heartbroken in fact that his beloved children had to go such a trial. He would do all He could to help you.
Thanks for the insight.
Jennifer
I am really looking forward to reading this book. It still has not arrived. I have written an email to Stephanie this morning since another two weeks have passed. Things from US usually get here in 10-14 days.
I am glad you made contact with Stephanie! She checked with their shipping department, and it did get mailed……so maybe they will go ahead and send out another one! They should! I would say the other one got lost somewhere in between America and Australia….hopefully whoever found it needed some words on gratitude, right??? Let me know what Stephanie says!
Love you!
Tammy
Have a super day!
DEAR GOD,
I want to thank You for what you have already done.
I am not going to wait until I see results or receive rewards; I am thanking you right now.
I am not going to wait until I feel better or things look better; I am thanking you right now.
I am not going to wait until people say they are sorry or until they stop talking about me;
I am thanking you right now.
I am not going to wait until the pain in my body disappears; I am thanking you right now.
I am not going to wait until my financial situation improves; I am going to thank you right now.
I am not going to wait until the children are asleep and the house is quiet; I am going to thank you right now.
I am not going to wait until I get promoted at work or until I get the job; I am going to thank you right now.
I am not going to wait until I understand every experience in my life that has caused me pain or grief; I am thanking you right now.
I am not going to wait until the journey gets easier or the challenges are removed; I am thanking you right now.
I am thanking you because I am alive.
I am thanking you because I made it through the day’s difficulties.
I am thanking you because I have walked around the obstacles.
I am thanking you because I have the ability and the opportunity to do
more and do better.
I’m thanking you because FATHER, YOU haven’t given up on me.
God is just so good; and He’s good all the time.
John 20:31 – But these are written that you may believe that Jesus is the Christ, and that by believing you may have life in His name.
Romans 10:9 & 10 – If you confess with your mouth, Jesus is Lord, and believe in your heart that God raised Him from the dead, you will be saved. For it is with your heart that you believe and are justified, and it is with your mouth that you confess and are saved.