I was having an interesting conversation with my 5-year-old Yadael yesterday. We stepped out for a quick drive to pick up something and we were out for less than 5 minutes. Although it was fall season, it was a cold day. As we walked back into the house after the quick drive, she said repeatedly “it’s really really cold” as she wrapped her arms around herself in a tight hug trying to wish away the shivers.

As we walked in, I couldn’t deny the warm toasty satisfaction of a 75 degree home that immediately brought me relief from the chills. I turned over to lock the door and said to her “Yadael, you should say thank you God for a warm house.” She yelled from the kitchen as she walked over to wash her hands, “why should I thank God for a warm house?” I walked over to the kitchen where she was, and I said to her because not everyone has a home. I gave a long speech on how some people have to stay out in the cold and don’t have homes and why it is important to always remain grateful. She pranced around the kitchen island humming a tune to herself, not paying attention to a word I was saying.

“Yadael are you listening?” I asked. passively she said “yes,” but continued in her dizzy song and dance as she touched each edge of the grey and black granite island and danced around again. I shook my head and started getting lunch ready for them. Minutes later a warm plate of Jollof rice was ready and both kids sat down to eat on their yellow kid-size table. “Mama,” Yadael called out, “we have to be thankful for our house” I looked up in surprise that she was paying attention, with a hint of doubt I asked, “why do we have to be thankful for our house?” She paused for a second with a blank stare as she slowly turned away from her food and looked in my direction, “ummmm…..because some people don’t have a house.”

I smiled at her and turned to put some items in the fridge. A few seconds later, she continued to belt out in her high-pitched voice without taking a breath “some people don’t have food, so we have to thank God for our food. Some people don’t have a family right mummy, so we have to thank God for our family. Some people don’t have a car, so we have to thank God for our car. Some people don’t have a computer, so we have to thank God for our computer. Some people don’t have a TV, so we have to thank God for our TV. Some people don’t have….” “Good job Yadael,” I interrupted “yes we have to be thankful, but you have to be quiet and eat your food.” Later that evening I reflected on the conversation we had, and I was thankful that she actually listens to me even in times when I doubt it.

I have found that sometimes I don’t thank God enough for the blessings he has bestowed on me. The opportunity to have things that I consider basic necessities are really not so basic after all. I am learning the importance of not taking things for granted but being specific in my thanks for the many things God has done and continues to do. So today I am thankful for the basics, for shelter, for food, for warmth in the cold seasons and coolness in the hot seasons, for the ability to choose what I want to eat when I want to eat, for the fact that I can drive to where I want to go when I want to go…..I can go on with this list but you get where I am going.

Stay thankful for what you have even when you are hoping and trusting God for more, it is important to remember that the things you call basic necessities are someone else idea of luxury so give thanks always.