Our Family Journal

There is much we have to be thankful for, and it appears that recent politics, weather, and simple supply and demand will be underlining that.

The real basic physical needs are three:
- Food
- Water
- Shelter

I have seen articles regarding both in the headlines a LOT lately. For example, there’s a worldwide wheat shortage and prices there are rising and expected to continue to rise, not only here but around the world, and not just for wheat but apparently all groceries and in all countries. See, the food chain is global now . . . . And when weather destroys one country’s crop, and demand affects another’s, and biofuel demands and experimenting eats up what used to be (but now apprently isn’t) surplus… well, you get the point. Another headline tells me there are trace amounts of pharmeceuticals in our drinking water, again for a variety of reasons, and no one really knows what effect these have nor what to do about it. And when there’s drought in one area, it affects the demand for and supply of water in other areas. And we all know of the high cost of living (esp. homes) in various areas of the US (most of New England, just for example) and that despite the housing crisis (that is overabundance of them and a soft market), it still costs a lot to own one and it’s become far less affordable. Mind you, that “shelter” need also relates to how easy it is to get to and from work (fuel costs) - you might be able to afford X house but can you afford to get to work from there, how far is the commute, what are the taxes…. and if you can’t, then what?

So here we are in our comfortable home that’s in pretty good shape, which we will have purchased six years ago this week, with a single car in equally good shape that will be paid for this May, an easy commute to school, church, and work by foot, bus or bike if the car isn’t roadworthy, and plenty of clothing (despite kids that keep growing). We have plenty of food and in a pinch can even walk to a grocery store if need be and I do know how to economize in the grocery budget when need be (and I even can make my own bread too - a recently acquired skill!). And we have town water that appears to be among the best around so far as we’ve been told.

And we have a God big enough to take care of any unforeseen problems too . . . . my point being, we take these three things for granted here in the US - or so it seems to me. These headlines make me so much more grateful and drive home just how blessed we are, not just in our country, but in our own family’s particulars, and just how much we have to be thankful for. God has provided us with so much, and I am so very thankful for that. I have a real, personal, relationship with Him, the fundamental basic need beyond any and all others. But also I have my dream home and my dream family, and all my basic physical needs are taken care of and so much more.

I read the following in I Chronicles 29 which gave heart and flesh to my thoughts . . . the context is about giving to God for His (earthly) temple . . . . when we are grateful, we often desire to give in return. Of course there is nothing we can give back to God because all is His to begin with, but let us all be so grateful for all He is and does.

10 David praised the LORD in the presence of the whole assembly, saying,
“Praise be to you, O LORD, God of our father Israel, from everlasting to
everlasting.

11 Yours, O LORD, is the greatness and the power and the glory and the
majesty and the splendor, for everything in heaven and earth is yours.
Yours, O LORD, is the kingdom; you are exalted as head over all.

12 Wealth and honor come from you; you are the ruler of all things. In
your hands are strength and power to exalt and give strength to all.

13 Now, our God, we give you thanks, and praise your glorious name.

This entry was posted on Monday, March 24th, 2008 at 3:58 pm, and is filed under General. You can follow any responses to this entry through the RSS 2.0 feed. You can skip to the end and leave a response. Pinging is currently not allowed.