Give Thanks, Even In The Drought

⁸ Then the word of the Lord came to him: ⁹ “Go at once to Zarephath in the region of Sidon and stay there. I have directed a widow there to supply you with food.” ¹⁰ So he went to Zarephath. When he came to the town gate, a widow was there gathering sticks. He called to her and asked, “Would you bring me a little water in a jar so I may have a drink?” ¹¹ As she was going to get it, he called, “And bring me, please, a piece of bread.”

¹² “As surely as the Lord your God lives,” she replied, “I don’t have any bread—only a handful of flour in a jar and a little olive oil in a jug. I am gathering a few sticks to take home and make a meal for myself and my son, that we may eat it—and die.”

¹³ Elijah said to her, “Don’t be afraid. Go home and do as you have said. But first make a small loaf of bread for me from what you have and bring it to me, and then make something for yourself and your son. ¹⁴ For this is what the Lord, the God of Israel, says: ‘The jar of flour will not be used up and the jug of oil will not run dry until the day the Lord sends rain on the land.’”

¹⁵ She went away and did as Elijah had told her. So there was food every day for Elijah and for the woman and her family. ¹⁶ For the jar of flour was not used up and the jug of oil did not run dry, in keeping with the word of the Lord spoken by Elijah.

— 1 Kings 17:8-16

At church, the pastor has been doing a series on the prophet Elijah. Israel experienced a drought for three years, but Elijah was faithful that God would provide for his needs. The widow he encountered was faithful as well. As Thanksgiving approaches in the coming week, it is important to be thankful. But it is important to be thankful at all times — even when we are experiencing personal drought. Lately, I feel that I am in a drought, but I can’t let that overshadow my many blessings. In the season of THANKGS and GIVING, I am creating a list of 100 things I am thankful for — I challenge you to make your own list and take some time to thank God for your many blessings.

1. I am thankful for my family; my mama, dad, brother, sister, and extended family. I am also thankful for the close bond that we all share.
2. I am thankful for being a twin, and for being born with my best friend.
3. I am thankful for my husband, Matthew; he is my rock and biggest supporter.
4. I am thankful for my friends, Rafael and Jessica, and their support.
5. I am thankful for my grandparents and are adventures together.
6. I am thankful for my in-laws.
7. I am thankful for the University of Maine and my brother’s graduate program.
8. I am thankful for First Presbyterian Church of Dunn and the welcome I have received since attending services.
9. I am thankful for books.
10. I am thankful for my car.
11. I am thankful for my house, and that my husband and I are blessed enough to be homeowners.
12. I am thankful for Disney Pixar movies, especially Zootopia (highly recommend it!).
13. I am thankful for East Carolina University and the three degrees I have.
14. I am thankful for my mistakes.
15. I am thankful for my students.
16. I am thankful for the pictures and drawings my students have given me over the years.
17. I am thankful for the relationships teaching has fostered.
18. I am thankful for the American Red Cross and the ability to donate blood.
19. I am thankful for my talents of writing and poetry.
20. I am thankful for art.
21. I am thankful I took art lessons growing up.
22. I am thankful that Frida Khalo and Diego Rivera’s work is in Raleigh, NC (I hope that my husband and I will go in the month of December!).
23. I am thankful for Vincent Van Gogh and Claude Monet.
24. I a thankful for sunflowers.
25. I am thankful for calla lilies.
26. I am thankful for pink Titanic roses.
27. I am thankful for modern healthcare.
28. I am thankful for mental healthcare.
29. I am thankful for my therapist.
30. I am thankful for my psychiatrist.
31. I am thankful for warm clothes in the cold.
32. I am thankful for snow.
33. I am thankful for tennis shoes.
34. I am thankful for comfortable work shoes.
35. I am thankful for my phone.
36. I am thankful for Harry Potter and how it brings so many people together (I am a proud member of the Ravenclaw House).
37. I am thankful for my sweet furbabies.
38. I am thankful we can provide for our animals.
39. I am thankful for the time I had with my dog, Jon Snow, before he passed.
40. I am thankful for memories.
41. I am thankful for dogs.
42. I am thankful for cats.
43. I am thankful for animals in general. Their existence brings me joy.
44. I am thankful for my Instagram and connection with other animal lovers through my account @peace_love_and_paws.
45. I am thankful for our Instagram connections with https://www.mugginandco.com/ & https://brittanyfarina.com/ (check them out!)
46. I am thankful for the Humane Society of Eastern Carolina and all they do to rescue animals.
47. I am thankful for having a job and a steady paycheck.
48. I am thankful for my coworkers, past and present.
49. I am thankful for the gym.
50. I am thankful for yoga and the ability to practice.
51. I am thankful for understanding the importance of self-care.
52. I am thankful for the body positivity movement.
53. I am thankful for my health coach, Jennifer Chalker.
54. I am thankful for Beachbody.
55. I am thankful for my time in Journalism Newspaper in high school.
56. I am thankful for Ms. Brenda Peregoy.
57. I am thankful for the beach.
58. I am thankful for swimming.
59. I am thankful for quiet reflection time.
60. I am thankful for sunshine.
61. I am thankful for laughter.
62. I am thankful for Thanksgiving.
63. I am thankful for old and new traditions.
64. I am thankful for Christmas.
65. I am thankful for the movie “Elf.”
66. I am thankful for the movie “Matilda.”
67. I am thankful for the release crying provides.
68. I am thankful for being able to capture moments and memories through photographs.
69. I am thankful for my former thesis committee and all the support Drs. T, D, and Z gave to me.
70. I am thankful I am a lifelong learner.
71. I am thankful for my laptop.
72. I am thankful for WordPress.
73. I am thankful for my blog.
74. I am thankful for my blog followers.
75. I am thankful for my passion and drive to become an author.
76. I am thankful for second chances.
77. I am thankful for new opportunities.
78. I am thankful for both open and closed doors.
79. I am thankful for India and my memories there.
80. I am thankful for central heating and air conditioning.
81. I am thankful for sweatshirts.
82. I am thankful for glasses.
83. I am thankful for pedicures.
84. I am thankful for wine.
85. I am thankful for my first book (a young adult fantasy novel), The Goodness of Unicorns. 
86. I am thankful for unicorns.
87. I am thankful for plays, musicals, and symphonies.
88. I am thankful for my collection of poetry.
89. I am thankful for my thesis research.
90. I am thankful for my drafting of a historical fiction novel based on my thesis research.
91. I am thankful for libraries.
92. I am thankful for fellowship with other Christians.
93. I am thankful for my religion.
94. I am thankful for my salvation through Jesus Christ.
95. I am thankful for forgiveness.
96. I am thankful for the meaning of the cross.
97. I am thankful for the prophet Elijah.
98. I am thankful for times of bounty.
99. I am thankful for times of drought.
100. I am thankful for the power of faith.