I want to say thanks to God for some of the blessings He has given me in the form of people. No man in history has ever been as blessed with friends as me.
I am thankful for the people who pray for me and with me, who encourage me and counsel me, who hold me accountable and forgive me, who hurt with me and rejoice with me.
I am thankful for the people who help pick out my clothes because I think plaid and polka-dots match well, who sweat with me and grapple with me, who sing with me and complain with me, and who overlook me when I just can't help being a jerk.
I am thankful for the people who learn from me and teach me, who share their stories with me and appreciate my feedback, who pick at me and pester me, who know me well enough to understand when I am doing the same, and who laugh with me.
I am thankful for the people who come to my house and hang with me, who eat with me (cookies!), who enjoy a stupid movie with me, who keep me from feeling my age, who trust me, and who let me watch them grow in the Lord.
I am thankful for the little people who absolutely light up my Sunday nights with their dancing and screaming and yelling and uncontrolled worship, who, for no good reason, have dubbed me "Uncle Chip," and who make me long for innocence again.
I am thankful for the people who love me and aren't afraid to tell me, aren't afraid to show me, and allow me to love them in the insufficient ways that I do.
And I would be way out of line if I didn't say how thankful I am for a God who loves me enough to die for me, who loves me enough to bless me, and who loves me enough to shatter me so that He can further show that love by putting me back together.
Happy Thanksgiving, y'all.
