Thanksgiving

I've realized in the spirit of Thanksgiving that I have a lot to be thankful for. And most of them aren't big things, but I think that's what makes God's small touches in life even more intimate.

• It was warm enough to walk home for lunch without a jacket.
• I came back to my desk and there was a chocolate bar with a smiley post-it note.
• Another care package from home.
• Being thanked by a teacher.
• A cup of coffee with a little piece of chocolate on the saucer.
• Text messages in the middle of the night reminding me someone on the other side of the Pacific is thinking of me.
• No basketball practice and no Bible study on Wednesday so I could write.
• An email from an old professor just asking how life is going.
  
• A student gave me flowers she made out of paper.
• My boss called to get the gas for my heater refilled, so I wouldn't freeze.
• My coworkers try really hard to learn English, which usually ends up with the entire office laughing.
• My co-teachers are all set on helping me pass my test next month.
• The lady at 7-11 remembered to talk to me slowly.
• The lady at the grocery store asked if I was doing okay because it's getting cold.
• Someone offered me a ride to the airport to go home for Christmas.
• Seeing Grandma for the first time since June.
• It's warm enough to sleep in my bed still.

It's been a rough week. Maybe it's just that time of year when it gets colder and darker. It's not quite pretty anymore. The bright red leaves have fallen off and left all the trees naked. It's like this weird in between period before the snow falls. A transition period. I'm eagerly awaiting the day I get to come home, come back to LA, to the smog, the noise, the traffic, but most of all, the people. I am trying really hard not to count down the days until I can come home. I've never really enjoyed the holiday season much, but it's strange not to have the house decorated. I mean, even my apartment was decorated during the holidays. But I'm thankful that I do get to go home. I'm thankful that my job and my boss are flexible and gracious. But I'm thankful to be here too. I'm thankful for the chance to finally live and work in Japan. I'm thankful for the time I get to have alone with my Best Friend. I'm thankful for the opportunity to finally sit down and write. I'm thankful for the small blessings because they remind me that God who is so big still knows I'm here, alone, in the middle of nowhere. They remind me that God who runs the universe still cares enough to put chocolate bars with smiley post-it notes on my desk. They remind me that God who holds the stars also holds my hand everyday when I walk to work and walk back home. I'm thankful for a God who is big enough for me to worship and still intimate enough to know my name.