We were sitting around my parent’s kitchen table with tears in our eyes but a smile on our lips, reading through a list that my brother had made named “Things to be Thankful for (Blessings).”
We found this list in Jeremy’s room after he had passed away in a tragic car accident at the age of 17. Topping the list was his relationship with God and his family members, but as the list progressed there were humorous entries such as, “cool personallity” and “fairly intelligent.” (Thank goodness he spelled that last one correctly!)
We couldn’t help but laugh through the pain.
I’ve often thought of this list and the positive impact that it has had on me. I was inspired to make my own list because I too wanted God and others to know just how thankful I am for each of them in my life.
Paul instructs us in Colossians 2:
You know your way around the faith. Now do what you’ve been taught. Quit studying the subject and start living it! And let your living spill over into thanksgiving.
Jeremy certainly did let his thanksgiving overflow within his short life and because he took the time to make his list of blessings, we can look back today and see how very much we meant to him.
I also loved that he was thankful for JOY because that is exactly what we all remember about Jeremy: his overwhelming joy.
If you knew Jeremy’s joy in a personal way, the Jeremy Barnhill Foundation for Christian Teens would like to invite you to share a memory that you have of him on our page. It would be a true blessing.
As you get ready to celebrate this season, I encourage you to make your own list of blessings. Let your daily living spill over into a life of thanksgiving.
