Grateful

As I was driving back to Auburn today (I made it back fine—Thanks to those of you whom I know were praying for my safe journey!), I was thinking about how grateful I am for all that I have and just how lucky I am.

I have parents and grandparents, an uncle, and an aunt that love me. I have extended family and friends who love me as well. I am a very loved person (not to sound conceited). I just love and am loved by a lot of people. I am grateful for those people in my life.

I have a home here in Auburn that more that suits my needs. I didn't even have to fight too hard with my parents to get it. *haha* I have electricity, heating and air conditioning, and hot water on demand. I have a dishwasher, washer and dryer, and just about every item needed to cook a gourmet meal at my immediate disposal. I am grateful for all of these things.

I have enough money to buy all of the things I need and most of the things I want. And if I need something that I cannot provide on my own, I know that my parents will take care of it. I am so lucky to not be like many college students who worry where their next meal is going to come from. I will graduate with no student loans or debt, and thanks to my summer jobs at TVA and my accounting internship, I should have a nice little nest egg set aside for a future down-payment on a home. I will be working in a profession that is in high demand, so I feel reasonably sure that I should always be able to find employment. There are so many financial aspects of my life to be grateful for.

I have a little puppy who loves me unconditionally. To her, I equal life. I provide her nourishment and try to see to her needs, and in return, she faithfully greets me when I arrive home and occasionally graces me with her presence beside me on the sofa. I had another little life, who I loved more than anyone in the world but my immediate family. She had to leave me because God and my family in Heaven needed her more, but she taught me how to love unconditionally and prepared me to take care of this new little life I have been charged to keep. I try to think of the passages from John 14 where Jesus says "Let not your hearts be troubled", "I go to prepare a place for you", and "And if I go and prepare a place for you, I will come again, and receive you unto myself; that where I am, there ye may be also". These passages remind me that not only Jesus left us to prepare Heaven and the place of eternal glory for us, but also our family members who went before us are preparing that place as well. We should not mourn their passing, though we do, because they sit at the feet of the Father and they are in their eternal glory. I take comfort in the fact that Jesus did die for our sins and, in his death, ensured our eternal salvation. I will be greeted one day by my precious Winnie as well as all the family that has gone before me, even the ones I never met, but long to know. I am so grateful for Emma, Winnie, and the promise of eternal salvation which will allow me to see all of the people that I love again as they greet me at the gates of Heaven. Oh, what a reunion that will be!

Enough of this—I started crying while writing the last paragraph. I was just thinking about how lucky I am and how wasteful I am. I want to live in a way where I remain grateful and also try to live in a less wasteful manner.

I've got to go unpack the car and try to get Emma to eat a little more food tonight.

Have a wonderful night!