Thankful Thursdays {and Another Confession}

Image source here.

I have a confession to make: I’ve been a really, really, really mean mom lately. I hesitate to post details here, in the fear that I’ll lose you, dear readers, whom I am SO GRATEFUL to GOD for (thanks for your support!). But, well, in the spirit of Lent and all, let me come clean and say that ours has not been a happy home for many days now. I’ve been super cranky and irritable in general, and very short and physical (*gulps* *sobs*) with the kids. 🙁 I’d like to blame it on hormones (I got my period last week), but that would be taking the easy route, right? Oh yes, I am imperfect. I am a sinner. And I am in need of grace. God’s grace. Not just today, but every single day.

That’s why I’m so grateful that I was able to go to confession earlier, before going to the office. ~~Sobbing~~ Telling my sins to someone who, undoubtedly, is an imperfect sinner like me, yet ordained to let me feel God’s refining, cleansing, amazing grace in a concrete way is an awesome experience every time. I also got to spend a few minutes in Adoration. Praise GOD! 🙂

My experience during the Sacrament of Reconciliation earlier has led me to come up with a “theme” of sorts for my blog posts every Thursday (though I don’t know if I’ll be able to post every week – wish me luck, haha!) – THANKFUL THURSDAYS. As a firm believer that gratitude is a wonderful, FREE antidote to life’s problems, I’ve decided to be more conscious about listing my blessings (which I don’t think I can do in just one post – they are so, so, so many!). So, with that, let today’s Thankful Thursday post begin!

Today, I am thankful for:

God’s unconditional love and forgiveness
My husband, who let me pour out my frustrations and fears through buckets of tears last night and held me close, assuring me of God’s faithfulness through his loving and comforting silence.
My kids, whom I miss every time I am not with them, have mistreated so many countless times (!) and whose forgiving love and innocent “overattachment” I don’t deserve, but accept just the same.
My family, especially my parents, who never fail to amaze me with how unconditional and giving and selfless they are in loving others, especially their children and grandchildren.
My friends – in Couples for Christ, in our homeschool support group, in my Catholic, pro-life and homeschool Facebook groups, at work, in the blogosphere (I plan to write a separate post about them altogether!) – for their support, prayers, tips, comments, suggestions, love.

I’ll have to stop here for now, because it’s time to get back to writing articles, but that doesn’t mean my gratefulness list ends here. Today, I choose to be grateful – as much as possible – for every second of my life. Because, my dear friends, every second is a gift. Let’s use this gift wisely.

How about you, friend?