Being Thankful Day 23

Today I can’t help but be thankful for the many wonderful friends God has placed in my life who come in to Mission of Hope.  I consider it an honor to be friends with those who are homeless, hurting, and those who are in need.  These special friends have taught me so much about life and about myself.  I used to judge people like these friends, and through my friendships with them, I have realized they are really no different than you or me.  They have just found themselves in a rough time in their lives for one reason or another.  One bad decision I could have made could have led me down a path that some have them have walked on or are currently walking on.  As I think about my day today, I had the privilege of praying with a handful of them.

These friends love me for who I am.  They don’t try to change me or want me to be someone else.  They have learned to not trust people.  I feel even more blessed to realize they trust me, through the time we’ve spent together talking and learning from each other.  I hold these people very dear to my heart tonight on this Thanksgiving eve.  Many are outside in the cold tonight.  Many might be fighting an addiction tonight.  Many might be suffering with depression.  The list goes on.  But I love them, I pray for them, and I am thankful for each of them.