I’m thinking about things for which I’m grateful. The simple ones are the blessing the majority of Americans experience—freedom, the beauty of creation, family, friends, food, shelter (comfortable shelter). But I want to be a little more specific. What are the ways God has uniquely blessed me? Each day until Thanksgiving it’s my intention to identify something for which I’m grateful and write about it.

I’ll start back in my childhood. My life would likely be quite different if I had not grown up in a Christian home. My parents made following Christ look like the right thing to do. They never did things that created a rebellious spirit in me or that caused me to doubt the authenticity of their faith. They followed the shepherd described in Psalm 23 and I did not have to fear evil.

I’m grateful for the Christian influence of my parents.