FOUR HUNDRED-80

365 Days of Thanksliving — Day 275

It hit me this morning, being that it’s September—gosh, this year is flying by—we’re three-quarters of the way through this blog journey, aren’t we? Holy Lutefisk, Batman.

Okay, maybe not the best thing to say. There ain’t nothing “holy” about lutefisk. I bet the devil wouldn’t even eat that stuff. Sorry! Squirrel moment. Hahaha. Roast squirrel might taste better than lutefisk. Just say’n. I’d rather starve and pass on into glory than eat that stinky, slimy, viscous seafood. Anyway….

Seriously though, I done did the math this morning. 274/365 = 0.75068493 (or just 75%). That’s nine months of things we’ve all found to be grateful for; and I say "we" affectionately. Think about it—sure, I’m the one banging out these blogs. But some of you have inspired posts, and a bunch of you, on any given day, share what you’re grateful for also.

I know I’ve said this before, but truly I am grateful for you; and that God keeps me going every day to find something, anything some days, to say “Thank you, Lord” for. Honestly, some days it feels like my gratitude meter is in the basement, and other days it’s pegging out. But I trod on, because, well… I owe it to you, and I owe it to God. I made a commitment after all.

Jesus’ instruction to pray (as He taught his disciples) is my foundation. When I think of that petition: “Give us this day our daily bread,” I often view that not as a supplication to God to supply all our needs, but to thank the Lord for all He gives, especially those things I never fail to consider.

Ponder a bit with me all the things we could name: food, water, shelter, clothing, Him (Father, Son, and Holy Spirit), salvation, grace, mercy, forgiveness, friends, family, our livelihoods, the tools and toys in our garages and sheds, vacations, the air in our lungs, waking up and having two feet this side of eternity, toilet paper, being able to think and rationalize…. And, and, and…. You get it.

I don’t know if I’m thankful for my boxer’s scream-barking right now (at this exact moment). But that’s Arlo. He just has a lot to say… like all the time, and LOUDLY.

Anywho, we all have so much to be thankful for, don’t we? Even loud, obnoxious dogs who keep us entertained and love us unconditionally.

Today, I’m grateful for you. I’m grateful for the ongoing inspiration. I’m grateful my wife has graciously given me the 1½ to 2 hours per night to create these posts. Parenthetically, that’s about 480 hours, or 20 days straight (with no sleep) of continuous writing, designing, and posting these blogs.

I’m grateful for all those things I listed above, and yes, even my adorable mutt who’s pegging out the decibel meter right now in our house. Oh, THANK YOU, God, he just buttoned his mouth. Silence. It’s golden.

With that news…. what are you thankful for today?