Thanksgiving~

One need only look aound oneself to see what there is to be thankful for. Many people do not stop and smell the roses, but then there are those who do, and they become thankful for even the smallest blessings. I am trying to be one of thsoe people who stop and smell the roses, who enjoys miracles of many kinds each and every day.

Normally I do not write about my children, I have always wished to keep that area of my life private but perhaps now is a good time to do so. What I am most thankful for in my life are my son and my daughter. There is no other gift from God like a child of own's own. To bring forth life from your own body is truly a miracle indeed. My children reflect not only my outer qualities but my inner ones as well. To see immortality in the eyes of my own flesh and blood is indescribable.

That said I also recognize the children of others as a gift from God. To truly love another, whether it be child or adult is as well a gift from God. To love is a choice; the word love in and of itself is a verb, an action word. To love not only your children but someone else's child is in itself a gift from God. The world is full of examples of parents who do not love their own children. To be blessed by love, of any kind, is one of those miracles that defies explanation. True love comes from within and can be found no other way. Love is a choice... love is always a choice, a gift to be fully embraced.

Thanksgiving for me means to be grateful for love, not only from my children but from children everywhere, all over the world. Love is a gift to be shared, it also is a gift to be thankful for... Thank you God for the gift of all my children whether they be my students or the children of my friends. Thank you God for the gift of love which is found within me , and for allowing me to share it with children everywhere....

It takes a grateful heart to see even the tiniest of miracles, I hope and pray that you, too, can stop today and recognize the miracles that surround you. They are all around you if only you choose to just stop and smell those roses...

The image (photogrpah taken by Anne Geddes) above can be found at:

http://www.casafree.com/modules/xcgal/displayimage.php?pid=4&album=topn&pos=0&cat=