Ukraine Prayer # 435

​Ira Kapitonova
Do not forsake me, O Lord!
O my God, be not far from me!
Make haste to help me,
O Lord, my salvation!
Psalm 38:21-22
"I am thankful we are still alive."
"I am thankful that our soldiers have weapons."
"I am thankful we can go to school."
"I am thankful that Jesus died on the cross for us."
 
We used Thanksgiving Day, celebrated in America today, as an occasion to talk with my students about things they are thankful for, and these were some of their answers.
It got me thinking as I realized I felt much more grateful when the circumstances were much more challenging. In the first weeks of the full-scale war, at the end of the day, we thanked God for being alive. We thanked Him for keeping our friends and family safe, for giving us enough food, and for watching over us as we evacuated. Now, when we don't feel the fragility of these blessings, it's so easy to slip back into taking them for granted.
That's why I want to be more intentional about my feeling of gratitude because often, it's not about what we have but about being thankful against all odds.
 
I will not try to write an extensive list here, but I definitely know that through this war, because of it, God has given me an incredible gift — people and friendships. Over the past 21 months, I was reminded of the incredible treasure of friends (both old and new) I have been given. There are several people I've never met in person, but I feel like we've been friends for years because of the genuine love and care I've seen through them. And there are hundreds of those whose names I might not remember, whose names I don't even know, but they are the ones faithfully praying and interceding for Ukraine. I am thankful for each one of these blessings and pray I will stay aware of these blessings without the need to be reminded of their fragility.

Today's picture — this is a very simple Tree of Thankfulness we created today with my students.