Thankful Thursday: Clean, Warm, Well-Fed

Have you ever stopped to consider the great blessing of being clean, warm, and well-fed? It’s something I take for granted too often. But many people around the world and in ages past are not or have not consistently been clean, warm, and well-fed.

They might not have indoor plumbing or heated, running water. They might not have the soap, the toothpaste, the laundry detergent I take so for granted.

They might not have the money to heat their homes, or maybe they lack a heater. Their blankets may be thin and their homes drafty.

They may not have a grocery store nearby with a variety of nutritious foods. They may not have money to buy from such a store if it did exist. They might exist on a confined, unvarying diet–beans and rice day after day, for example.

So today, I am thankful that for those things.

Today, I am thankful…

…for the bathtub that lets me soak away my worries each evening in a pool of heated water

…for the washing machine that gets my clothes clean (even if the process is a bit more intensive than I’m used to)

…for the vacuum cleaner with which I prepare my home for guests

…for the heat pump that keeps my home warm by day

…for the heated blanket that keeps me warm by night

…for the car heater that keeps me warm when I venture outside my home in this brisk Nebraska winter

…for the free meals I get every day at work (for the small price of, well, trying everything and making sure it’s okay!)

…for my stuffed refrigerator, freezer, pantry, and cupboards. Even if I didn’t go to the store for weeks, I would not starve

…for Super Saver just down the road, with great prices and lots of good food

Beyond all that, I’m thankful…

…for the blood of Jesus Christ which cleanses us from all sin. (I John 1:7)

…for the wings under which I find refuge (Ps. 91:4)

…for the bread of life who make me never hunger again (John 6:35)