As I prepared our Thanksgiving meal yesterday, I thought about the
blessings in my life. I read what others
said they are thankful for in their posts on Facebook. Most were what you would expect.
I do have a lot to be thankful for this year. I am delighted to have a beautiful new
grandchild, my first one. I am thankful
for family, friends, my home, food, clothing, my church, and so many other
things. I have so much for which I am
grateful.
However, it has occurred to me that I have other not so obvious
blessings. Recently, while standing on
our Statehouse steps at a rally in support of refugees, I felt strangely thankful
that I needed to be there. I live in an
extremely conservative state with many legislators who live in the past. They have no concept of human rights, among
other things. It is extremely
frustrating at times. I look at my
friends who live in more progressive states and realize that many of them have
no idea what it is like to live in a state like Idaho. They take many of their rights for granted.
I am thankful that I have been challenged to take a stand on important
issues. I have had to examine my faith
and my views on social issues and make decisions about what I should do. I have sat in legislative hearings,
recruiting others to come and testify. I
have joined others on the Capitol steps for rallies, stood in silent prayer
with other people of faith, and I have even been arrested. I have become a stronger person as a
result. I have met incredible people, a
diverse bunch of brave, passionate individuals.
While we’ve experienced a lot of disappointment, I feel blessed by my
experiences and relationships. I am
thankful that our ignorant and backwards state government has compelled me to
stand up for justice. I am thankful for
a God who nudges me in the right direction.
I know I will also learn perseverance because I will not give up.
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