In All Things Be Thankful
By Tina Roberts©

Those can be hard words to live by. We are told that we are to be thankful for all things in our lives, but that is hard to do when obstacles come our way that make us unhappy, sad, or depressed. I have felt all those things over the past years and only by the Grace of God am I still here to tell you about them.

It is ironic that my first article was requested for the magazine on “Thankfulness”… because that is something that I struggle with each day I wake up and realize that I am still alive. When I take my first breath in the morning, I realize that God is not finished with me yet.

I hope to share some of my trials, hopes, dreams and answered prayers with the readers over the next several months. That is the reason that I write! God has given me a great desire to help others with what ever they may be going through.  

As I was speaking with Connie, earlier this week, I shared part of my testimony with her. When I do… I am almost always amazed by it as everyone else is. God has given me some innate ability to keep putting one foot in front of the other, even when I feel like I just want to die, and I mean that literally.

I think back over the things that I have endured in the past, and I realize that it is only by the “Grace of God” that I am still here, and he is definitely not finished with me yet. That scares me a little bit, because at times I am not sure if I could take one more thing… but IF another trial comes my way, I will depend on God to get me through it. I will try to get up each day and put a smile, even if it is a weak one, on my face. God still has a purpose for my life. I guess that is my point. We are supposed to be thankful in ALL things, and since God is the one that told us this, I believe he knows what he is talking about.

When the bible tells us that “All things work together for good for them that love God and are called according to his purpose”…. it means just that. All things, even the things in life that cause us pain, even our mistakes, no matter what… God can use that for his glory. Isn't that reason the he created us for in the first place, to glorify his name? If so… may I always remember to whom I belong and know that I try to be thankful in all things.

Tina Roberts Bio:

It is always difficult for me when someone asks me to tell them about myself. I often find myself wondering what, if anything is so special about me. The answer that I get, and the only one I should believe, comes from God. He created me the way he wanted me, he made me who I am.
On a less philosophical note, I have been married most of my life! Yes… married for 27 years and counting. My husband is my best friend and although life has thrown “everything” it can at us… we still keep counting our blessings. I am a mother and grandmother, but I don't want to bore you with how beautiful they are (and they really are! LOL) so I will just say that they are the best things I have ever been blessed with.
I suffer from several illnesses that tend to keep me home most of the time. Everything is not all bad though, because being home has allowed me to do something that I have dreamed about my entire life. I love to write Historical Christian Fiction and I pray that God blesses my efforts. Before I became sick, I was always the “bubbly” person in the room, but now… I am lucky I am just “in” the room. The transition has been hard, but I am taking it one day at a time. I hope by sharing some of my past experiences will allow God to reach someone and that is the real reason that I write after all.

Send Tina a note at: tinaislistening@yahoo.com