I've Got Plenty to Be Thankful For

I've got plenty to be thankful for

I haven't got

A great big yacht

To sail from shore to shore

Still I've got plenty to be thankful for

I've got plenty to be thankful for

No private car

No caviar

No carpet on my floor

Still I've got plenty to be thankful for

I've got eyes to see with

Ears to hear with

Arms to hug with

Lips to kiss with

Someone to adore

How could anybody ask for more?

My needs are small

I buy them all

At the five and ten cent store

Oh, I've got plenty to be thankful for

(lyrics by Irving Berlin)

This is one of my favorite holiday songs and it pretty much sums it up. (But we do have carpet on our floor...maybe I should change the lyrics to "laminate wood flooring.") :)

At this time of year (right before Christmas) it's so easy to get caught up in the "I want that" mentality. I've been seeing the Christmas circulars and thinking how much I'd like to get certain things for Anna (but can't afford to). Then I remember that it's just stuff; just more stuff to add to the tons of stuff we already have. And I have to ask myself what's more important--giving Anna gifts so she can have all the same toys her friends do (so I don't feel like she's left out), or teaching her that what matters is what's in your heart, not what's in your hands.

So I've been asking God to help me be thankful for what we DO have, for wisdom to teach my child's heart contentment, and for mindfulness to remember that Christmas is about Jesus--not presents.

I've got plenty to be thankful for.