“Praise be to the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ! In his great mercy he has given us new birth into a living hope through the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead, and into an inheritance that can never perish, spoil or fade. This inheritance is kept in heaven for you…” I Peter 1:3-4 (NIV)

I am thankful for cart returns. A few years ago, I began to hold myself accountable for returning my shopping cart to the return bay no matter how far away or how many oncoming cars I had to navigate to get it there.

I am thankful for parenting apps. When you have four boys, three we are still responsible to get to adulthood…having an extra pair of eyes in our corner helps. This week the alerts gave me the opportunity to have an important talk with my son. To be sure he felt courage to speak up in tough situations. To know that he is loved and can talk to me about anything.

I am thankful for hugs from my adult kiddos. We are in a rough season as a world, as a nation, as a culture, and as a family. Knowing I can nestle under my 6’5” son’s arm for an anaconda squeeze or receive a jumping-into-my-arms hug from my 22-year-old baby girl fills me with comfort and reminds me I am loved.

I am thankful for polish chicken noodle soup and the dear friend who brought it to me while I suffered through a severe cold this week.

I am thankful for seat heaters and sunglasses. A warm bed. A hot meal. A safe home. A beautiful family.

I am thankful for memories and moments, and for the free will God gives me to maximize them.

I am thankful for the living hope I have in Jesus Christ, who laid down His life so that we as a human race, full of wickedness and sin, could be forgiven.

I am thankful for the heavenly inheritance He holds for me. It will not perish, spoil, or fade away.

All Praise be to You, Oh God!

Scripture quotation marked (NIV) are taken from THE HOLY BIBLE, NEW INTERNATIONAL VERSION®, NIV® Copyright © 1973, 1978, 1984, 2011 by Biblica, Inc.® Used by permission. All rights reserved worldwide.