Thankful

St. Louis, MO -- I read a verse today that had to do with gratitude. Colossians 3:16

Last Monday I had a doctor's appt. When I had called to schedule the appointment, they told me that because it had been so long since I'd visited her, they'd have to schedule me as a "new patient"... which inevitably would cost more. They asked for my insurance. None (as of yet).

"Well, you do realize that appointments start at $100 and go up from there."

Lovely thought.

But not much of an option. So, I headed in, praying that it would be as low as possible.

I got all those blood tests done in Mexico to take in to my doctor so as not to have to do them here in the States. I was praying that she would accept those tests and results. She did. What's more, when I walked out of the doctor's office, prepared to write a check of at least one hundred dollars, I was shocked when she said... "Hmm... ok, let's see. That'll be $35."I was like, "that's all??" Wow. And I was very thankful.

While driving around last week, I swerved large flying objects out of the back of trucks and slammed on my brakes in traffic while blaring my horn at someone who wasn't listening, wasn't looking and who didn't think I was in the lane. Going probably 50 miles an hour, surrounded by a "million" other cars, he probably missed me by an inch, if that.

And again, I was very thankful for protection from God.I was also very thankful as I finished a video I had been working on... using a million programs against one another, I was able to accomplish most of what I wanted with that video. It took several hours on several nights, but it worked out and I was happy with it.

I'm still working on some of these projects and taking constructive criticism to make it better. So, they're not finished projects yet, but I'm looking forward to more improved projects to better serve and explain the vision for Japan. I find the attitude of thankfulness or gratefulness is really useful in combatting many things. I really believe in it, and it was a theme I took up for the longest time with the youth in Mexico.

I've also had an amazing responsive of interest toward Japan. Of course, I think Japan is awesome and I feel the burden for Japan... but I suppose it's just really cool for me to see how so many people's faces light up when I mention Japan. I even met this Japanese lady that goes to my grandma's church, and boy was she excited about Japan. She was such a sweet thing and she just had so much to say. And among them was how much she was thankful that someone was going to Japan.

But it's not just the "big" things that we should be thankful for (like protection for a truck getting ready to smash your car), but for all those blessings from God that go maybe "unnoticed". For the things we take for granted, but that is very much like ungratefulness.