Practicing Gratitude

This has been a big week around here. We had a major decision to make. A part-time job offer from out of the blue was dropped right into my lap. It was the perfect job for me. Even the hours would have been workable as far as the girls' school days are concerned.

But I ended up turning it down because of their non-school days.

It's really no use being their stay-at-home mom on the days they're in school if they have to go to a babysitter for most of the days they don't have school.

We could have made Christmas and Spring Break work, but summer... not so much.

But I'm thankful for the opportunity; thankful I was wanted. (I'm even a little thankful they sounded so disappointed when I gave them my decision!)

I'm thankful I desired my husband's input, was willing to accept his final decision, and that it confirmed my own feelings.

I'm thankful he desires that his girls have a stay-at-home mom more than he desires extra money, even though it would have made life much easier in that sense.

I'm thankful I had people praying for us as we wrestled with the decision.

I'm thankful for peace, even though it was hard to let go of the promise of significant additional income.

I'm thankful for the fresh perspective this has given me about how I do my jobs of housewife-ing, stay-at-home mother-ing, and housekeeping.

I'm thankful for the opportunity to explain to my girls how "unfair in our favour" life has been as we were packing our Operation Christmas Child shoeboxes tonight, and there were complaints about them not getting to keep some of the goodies for themselves.

I'm thankful for a great God, the Sustainer of life, who has blessed us so richly...

...that we might BE a blessing to others.

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