My husband had to make two late night visits to the emergency room with my daughter last week.  She had her tonsils removed and had started bleeding.  Being without a home phone, and across the border from the U.S., I spent a few long nights praying that she would get there safely and that the bleeding would cease. 

Experiencing things like this, emergencies, lack, and difficulties, have the strange effect of making me more thankful.  When you are at the bottom, just praying for God to spare someone close to you, it suddenly doesn't matter what kind of home you have, what car you drive or whether your curriculum budget is as ample as you wish.   I am suddenly made thankful for such simple things, the ability to make 10 cups of tea for my teenage daughter, the joy of changing another diaper for my infant, or feeding another piece of peanut-butter bread to my 4 year old.  I love the singing of the little brown birds in the garden, and the gift of one more day to read to my children.  Everyday is a gift in its abundance or lack, let us give thanks in everything.

 Enter into his gates with thanksgiving and into his courts with praise: be thankful unto him and bless his name.    Psalm 100:4

Jennifer Pepito, Chapel Editor