Thanksgiving was just around the corner when, a few years ago, I had an early opportunity to practice it. Strangely enough, it was a leaking roof which caused me to be thankful.
I had gone to bed and was almost asleep when suddenly it sounded as if someone had turned on the shower. I staggered into the bathroom, turned on the light, and saw water pouring in from around the light fixture. Climbing up on the roof at that time of night in the middle of a heavy downpour was an option considered and quickly rejected. I could go up into the attic from the inside, but if I found the leak there was hardly anything I could do about it in the middle of a thunderstorm. It seemed to me that the only sensible thing to do was to clean up the water, set a bucket under the leak, and go back to bed. I decided to be sensible.
Back in bed my first reaction was to be upset over having such a leak. Then it struck me that I had a lot to be thankful for.
I was thankful that I had lived in this house almost 20 years without the roof leaking. During countless storms I had been sheltered in warmth and security.
I was thankful that the leak was in the bathroom and not directly above my bed. I was thankful that the bathroom floor was tile and not carpet.
I was thankful that I had a door I could shut to block out the noise of the drip, drip, drip.
I was thankful that I wasn’t Abraham, Issac, Jacob, or any of those other great patriarchs who spent their lives in tents.
I was thankful that on such a night I had a roof over my head, leaky though it be. I thought of people all over the world who were cold, hungry, and wet. How they must be longing for the comfort I enjoy!
In prayer I thanked God for countless blessings and fell asleep.
Upon awaking I thanked him for the rest of the night, and for a roof that can be patched, a roof that could just as easily have been blown off by a tornado.
I got up feeling good, and I feel good today. How about you?