Thankful Thursdays

Over the last few years, the Lord has been working on my heart in the area of thankfulness.  There are a lot of fantastic resources to help build the habit of giving thanks into your life. One book that has been especially helpful is the book, "1000 Gifts" by Ann Voskamp. This book inspired me to seek and savor Jesus in the everyday moments of my life.  This has opened my heart to understanding that God is a gracious and good gift Giver and all He gives is for my good and His glory.  It has been amazing also to see how much Thankfulness is emphasized in Scripture.  Today I want to focus on a verse and something I am particularly thankful for.

Psalm 127 says this:

"Unless the Lord builds the house,

those who build it labor in vain.

Unless the Lord watches over the city,

the watchman stays awake in vain.

 It is in vain that you rise up early

and go late to rest,

eating the bread of anxious toil;

for he gives to his beloved sleep.

 Behold, children are a heritage from the Lord,

the fruit of the womb a reward.

Like arrows in the hand of a warrior

are the children of one's youth.

Blessed is the man

who fills his quiver with them!

He shall not be put to shame

when he speaks with his enemies in the gate."

 I am so very grateful that the Lord has been the builder of our home.  When my husband and I got married, I wanted a whole passel of children.  Instead of easy, joyful pregnancies, my husband and I experienced 10 pregnancies in 10 years resulting in 4 miscarriages (ranging in 6 weeks to 16 weeks) and 6 living children- 3 who arrived full term, and 3 pre-term (ranging from 30 weeks-36 weeks).  They were tumultuous days for me, with many times of struggle and discouragement and times of great joy.  I am so grateful that while I do believe that children are a precious gift from the Lord and would have loved to have many more children, I am so grateful that God is the one building our home- from the amount of children we have been given and even working out His purposes in out children's lives, despite our failings as parents.  I am so grateful that I know God will work in my children and it makes all the things we do in our home to teach and train them worthwhile- I know our work is not in vain.

I am so grateful for these precious lives and I can't wait to see all will do in our family and can rest in Him, secure!