Today was a day of putting lessons I have learned into action (this is NOT always my M.O.). I am learning that lessons are not meant just to be retained, but to be acted upon. I saw first hand the fruit of stepping out, even if your’re scared. Even if you think you might fail. I have spoken before about my mom, and the changes (good and bad) that she has undergone over the the last few years. Needless to say change and trauma will take a toll on a person’s personality no matter how strong they might be. With all that went on my mom’s confidence and strength took a major hit. But today my mom said these words to me, “I feel so good about myself right now.” Hearing that made me smile (words of affirmation scarcely come out of her mouth when she is talking about herself).  So what happened? She stepped out…today was the first day of her lunch service! And she walked away with a profit and orders for the remainder of the week! She is excited that people like her cooking, but her real excitement is just that, having that feeling of excitement once again. She has a purpose, a goal, something to work towards. She is redeeming her time. I am very proud of her. On this journey our ventures will fail or succeed. But if we never venture, we never know…the unknown only stays unknown, if we never try.

“Now faith is the assurance of things hoped for, the conviction of things not seen. For by it the people of old received their commendation. By faith we understand that the universe was created by the word of God, so that what is seen was not made out of things that are visible” (Hebrews 11:1-3).

So what am I thankful for today? My mom’s JOY.