Thankful Thursday #2

"God gave you a gift of 86,400 seconds today. Have you used one to say "thank you?" ~William A. Ward

I've been looking forward to Thankful Thursday since last week. It was fun to focus on my reasons to be grateful--and even more fun to peek into the lives of others and see their reasons to be grateful.

Today I am thankful for:

• the chance to go running with my husband, Rob. Well, to be honest, we go walk/running. I'm a beginner at this and am still working on the whole time/distance/interval challenge. But the best part is that this is something my husband and I are doing together. And at the end of each run, we clasp hands and tell each other, "Good job!"
• the chance to connect with each one of my 4 siblings and both of my parents this week. I live in Colorado--they all live on the east coast. So it's nice to look back and realize I had the chance to chat with all of them.
• my health. I shouldn't take it for granted, especially since 2007 was a year of extended illness for me. And I have several close friends/family members who are struggling with health problems. When you feel good, sometimes you just take it for granted.
• my children. They make me laugh. They make me proud. They teach me about forgiveness and courage and living life to the fullest.
• grace. I don't "get" grace. It's too wide-open and unconditional for an Accidental Pharisee for me. But I know I need it. I desire it. I really, really don't want life to be all about Law and dos and don'ts. I am thankful that I wake up each morning and God's mercies are new--and I can start again, without the mistakes of yesterday and the day before and the day before that hanging over me.

"We throw open our doors to God and discover at the same moment that he has already thrown open his door to us. We find ourselves standing where we always hoped we might stand--in the wide open spaces of God's grace..." —Romans 5:2 The Message

Thank you, Iris, at Sting My Heart, for hosting Thankful Thursday.