Gratitude can sneak up on you.

It doesn’t always arrive with bright lights or easy circumstances. Sometimes it shows up in the middle of the hard, the complicated, the not-what-I-would’ve-chosen parts of life. And somehow, that’s where some of the most meaningful thanks begin.

Today, I’ve been reflecting on the things I’m thankful for—not just the obvious blessings, but also the unexpected gifts that have shaped me. Some of them I didn’t recognize as gifts at the time. Some I still don’t fully understand. But all of them, in one way or another, have formed the person I’m becoming.

Here’s a glimpse into what I’m giving thanks for today:

1. I’m thankful for the things I never wanted to experience… but did anyway.

The things I begged God to remove. The things that felt unfair, painful, and even unbearable. Because it’s through those very experiences—where I didn’t get what I wanted—that I’ve grown the most.

2. I’m thankful for the full range of human emotion.

From joy that feels like sunlight on my face to grief that takes my breath away. I’ve learned to sit with both. I’ve come to see that wholeness doesn’t mean avoiding the lows—it means embracing the entire spectrum of being human.

3. I’m thankful for the people who walked out of my life.

Not because it didn’t hurt, but because their leaving taught me how to be fully present with what—and who—is in front of me. Nothing is guaranteed. Every moment matters.

4. I’m thankful for those who returned.

Because life isn’t linear. It moves in circles and spirals and sometimes messy, unpredictable loops. I’m learning to hold people with open hands, not clenched fists.

5. I’m thankful for the broken pieces of my heart.

They’re not just remnants of pain—they’re part of my story. And they’re shaping the puzzle of the person I’m still becoming.

6. I’m thankful for the moments that knocked me flat.

The ones that left me feeling paralyzed and undone. Because they taught me how deeply I had loved—and reminded me that some things are worth that kind of heartache.

7. I’m thankful for the strength I had to find in myself—with God’s help.

Not something handed to me. Not something I borrowed from someone else. But something I had to dig deep to discover, pulled up with trembling hands and divine help.

8. I’m thankful for faith that still flickers in my soul.

Even when I’ve doubted. Even when I’ve felt forgotten. I’ve always known—somewhere deeper than words—that God hasn’t given up on me. And I’m so grateful for the gift of that faith.

9. I’m thankful I can’t go back and rewrite the past.

Even on the days I wish I could. The mistakes I’ve made are now part of my story—scars that have become sacred chapters.

10. I’m thankful for rejection and humiliation.

Not because they were easy to endure, but because they’ve shaped my resilience and given me perspective I couldn’t have gained otherwise.

11. I’m thankful for a God who has always loved me.

Even in the moments when I’ve been most unlovable. He has never stopped calling me His own.

12. I’m thankful for a husband who takes care of me.

Even when I stubbornly resist. Even when I say, “I’ve got it,” and don’t. His persistence in loving me has taught me that asking for help isn’t weakness—it’s wisdom.

13. I’m thankful for the funny, quirky, life-giving moments that happen every day.

If I’m paying attention, life is hilarious and heartwarming and full of glimmers. I just have to slow down long enough to notice.

14. I’m thankful for the people who love me well.

The ones who reach out even when I disappear into my introverted cave. The ones who pray, text, check in, and just sit with me. As much as I recharge in solitude, I was made for fellowship—and I’m not whole without it.

15. I’m thankful for this very day.

Each day is a gift. A wild, unfolding, grace-soaked gift. Like unwrapping a present every single minute of every single day.

Thank You, Father.

Thank You for all the above and for so many things I didn’t mention.
You know what I need more than I do.
Thank You for your patient, thoughtful love.
Thank You for growing me slowly but surely.
You have begun a good work in me—and I trust that You’ll be faithful to finish it.

“Being confident of this, that He who began a good work in you
will carry it on to completion until the day of Christ Jesus.”
— Philippians 1:6