I know it’s typical and cliche to write a post about being grateful on Thanksgiving, but the truth is that this has by far been the best year of my life.

I would have never fathomed sitting in this same place a year ago that God would show up in my life the way He has these last 12 months.

I would have never imagined that He would use one of the people I least expected to change me.

I would have never imagined that He would use me to affect some of the people in my life.

I would have never imagined I’d be sitting just 3 weeks away from welcoming my first “sister” into my family and that God would have blessed ME so much because of it.

I would have never imagined some of the hard times I went through in order to be made better.

I would have never imagined meeting people who are going to be in my life forever.

I would have never imagined to laugh till I cried so. many. times.

I would have never imagined God showing up in the places and ways He showed up.

I can honestly say that I have a better understanding of grace and mercy and hope and patience.

I’ve had friends on their knees for me and friends who have given up their time, energy, resources, and effort to bless me in some way. Sometimes it was just being there, and sometimes it was a physical action. I’ve received countless encouraging emails, letters, texts, messages, etc. that have meant the world to me. I’ve had someone next to me at times when I was receiving, and even still at times when I wasn’t. Those prayer times in the car meant so much to me and healed things in me. Those conversations till all hours of the morning whether they were encouraging or just to make me laugh meant so much to my weary spirit. The faithfulness in which people walked alongside me has changed me. I cannot thank God enough for the PEOPLE He has given me. I considered myself most blessed.

My family has been there. Always. Encouraging and believing in me. I don’t think anyone in this entire world believes in me more than my Dad and it’s humbling really. He has far more faith in my gifts and calling and spirit than anyone I’ve ever known and it has been such a huge strength for me.

The fact that I go to school. Do I complain sometimes about Lee? Of course. But when I step back and I see my peers worshipping God, or I step back and I see someone receive an award, or I step back and I see the thankfulness on one of my peer’s faces as they realize they’ve done well on something they worked hard on. It’s things like this that put me back into perspective and when it all comes down to it, I am so very grateful that I have an opportunity to be at Lee because that place holds a lot of very significant God moments for me and it’s the place that brought these people into my life in some way or another, so I am thankful for the chance to be a student at Lee (and that I’m almost done!)

Grace. Grace. Grace. Sometimes it just hits me how little I deserve any of this. Especially the fact that God would in any way call me or allow me to be a part of what He is doing. God has (and still is in some areas) humbling me and reminding me daily of what He is doing in my life. I stand amazed.

I’m thankful for the gift to write. I never used to see it as a gift, but it is. I am thankful (after a lot of years of “wanting” other gifts) for the gifts God has given me. I am thankful that He specifically chose those gifts for me and constantly gives me opportunities to sharpen them.

I’m thankful for the church I have been attending. They truly live out all of the things they preach and claim. It refreshes my spirit and I am thankful for adults pouring into my life and not looking down on me because I am young. I am thankful for the opportunity to hear God’s Word and to be a part of helping others who do not know the Lord or do not have as much as I do.

I’m grateful for the promises of God. Comfort for those who mourn. Light for those who sit in darkness. Hope for the hopeless. Healing for the broken. I’m thankful I get to SEE these things happen and I’m especially thankful I get to see this at work in my family.

I’m thankful for confirmation. For clarity. For peace. For rest. I am thankful for tears from laughing so hard and laughter after I’ve been crying. I’m thankful for communication and music and art and the creativity God has blessed people with.

I am grateful for a God who works in absolutely crazy ways. Crazy ways and small ways and big ways and all sorts of ways to all sorts of people. The uniqueness in which He moves…blows me away.

I hope that if you are going through a rough season in your life, a valley, that you can feel the Lord near you. He is always with us. There have been times I haven’t felt Him, but He is always near.

You are never alone.