Thanks For Nothing - Tracy Krauss

"Thanks for nothing!" Have you ever heard this phrase, perhaps coming from a surly teen, a disgruntled customer, or (heaven forbid) even from your own mouth? Thanksgiving is just one week past, and I couldn't help but continue to reflect on how blessed I am. We often make lists of things we're thankful for, but I thought instead I'd list the things that I am thankful are not in my life.

- I'm thankful that I have not, as yet, suffered from any major or life threatening illnesses. This extends to my immediate family. How blessed! When I think of all those that have had this as part of their life's story, I wonder at God's graciousness toward me.

- I'm thankful that divorce has not touched my marriage, or those of my siblings. Both my husband and I grew up in homes where our parents were divorced. Yet, we are still happily married after 29 years, and each of my siblings can say the same. What a blessing!

- I'm thankful that I do not have to get up each morning and go to a job that I hate. I love teaching, despite its many stressful moments, and I'm so grateful each day when I think of where I could be working ... Yikes! Similarly, imagine what it must be like for those who have no choice in the matter - children working in sweat shops, those enslaved in the sex trade, etc.

- I'm thankful that I do not live in a war torn country. How thankful I am that I do not wake up to bombs, machine gun fire, or other threats.

-  Although I sometimes yearn for the excitement of city life, most of the time I am also thankful for the absence of traffic and noise where I live. In this case, 'nothing' is truly MORE.

I could go on, but you get the picture. Sometimes we can be just as thankful for the lack of certain things as we are for things we possess. It's all a matter of perspective.