thankful

At the house, one of my favorite things that we do is the Thankful Box. It's a shoebox, decorated by house members, but it's not the box that's important, it's what's inside. During the week, the Thankful Box sits in the kitchen with a stack of paper squares and a pen next to it. As we go through our days, we write down things that we are thankful for and put them in the box. It's incredible to watch it fill up with brightly colored pieces of paper! It's not only everyone living in the community, but anyone who comes through the house during the week is encouraged to be thankful with us.

On Sunday nights, we have a Bible study/worship session/celebration time. Afterwards, when the house has mostly emptied out, whoever is still there (and the house members) all gather in a circle in the den and pass the Thankful Box around. Depending on how many people are there and how thankful we've been all week, we each pick out a certain number of papers. Then we take turns, going around the circle and reading out the anonymous slips. Some are funny, others are deep and touching, and a handful are difficult to read. We laugh, say "aw", and "amen" a lot. It's amazing to see how much we truly have to be thankful for. Honestly, it's one of (if not my absolute) favorite times of the week.

One of the things I'm really thankful for is Panimaquin. I am thankful that I can once again be the girl in this picture. That I have another chance at getting things right, pouring my life out for others in love and beauty. I am thankful for freedom I shouldn't know and love I don't deserve. I am thankful that I don't have to be afraid, or alone anymore. I am thankful that things are turning green again, and that I can know everything is going to be okay. I am thankful I don't have to be who I was, only who I am. I'm thankful for sunshine, and silliness, and jumping in huge mud puddles. For coyotes in the back yard, staying up late, quiet mornings, grace, and salads from our garden.

God is good. And it feels good to say that.

sarah∞mae