Gratitude

Hi Friends! 

If you’re in a similar space as me, you’re getting ready for Thanksgiving, Friendsgiving, or just spending time with the people you love. It’s a really busy time. Even busier if you’re in the retail world, making sure you have what the people want. Slowing down to take the time to be Grateful for what you have; Your family, friends, life, etc. seems even more difficult than it may have been last week or even yesterday. The one thing we can be confident in is that we have a loving God who is in the detail of our lives, woven through our connections with people, blessing us, and loving us. 

A few years ago, I got a few packages in the mail that I knew were coming and I couldn’t wait to receive!  My friend of 35 years sent me a beautiful lamp.  It was brass, in the shape of a chandelier, with the crystals intact that glimmered all over the whole room when the lamp was turned on. In a separate package was a beautiful lamp shade, handmade by the sender of the packages.  It came all the way from Canada.  This lamp was heavy!  

35 years ago I gifted her this very same lamp.  At the time, she had a beautiful home filled with antiques and this lamp just fit.  It was one of a kind, and she made a beautiful lamp shade with her grandma’s brooch on the top that just made it even better.  I had no thought of keeping it myself nor did I have a place for it.

I bought a house 18 years ago that was built in 1886 that I still live in.  I knew at the time I would need to fill it with furniture that would tie in with the era, so shopping I went.  The one thing I was missing was a lamp in my front sitting room but I couldn’t find anything that would fit that I liked.  

Fast forward to receiving this gift.  I can’t even tell you what it meant to me to receive it.  Not only did it look even better than when I gifted it to her, lighting up the corner of my sitting room, but the lamp shade was even better than the lamp, with a little personal history of her family that I will cherish in my family.

What she really gave to me that day was this feeling that I was loved and remembered.  That’s something you can’t replace.  I am grateful for her friendship, thoughtfulness, and her thought to send something my way.  

Did she recognize that prompting that came from God?  I don’t know.  What I do know is that He knew how much it would mean to me, especially coming from her.  His fingerprints were all over this lamp, our relationship, and this little tender mercy.

In this time of Gratitude, Let’s be the friend, family member, loved one to be used by our Heavenly Father.  We all have a part to play in this life, and I for one have my hand up to volunteer for whatever service He has in mind.

Giving thanks,

Jennie