Today is a day when we celebrate our blessings and reflect on all the wonderful things we have to be thankful for. It’s a good thing to stop and express our gratitude — we all have much to be thankful for.
However, some of you are probably really struggling this Thanksgiving. Maybe your husband recently left you, or your child has been diagnosed with a terminal illness, or you are battling an addiction, or your finances feel like they are in shambles and you are just digging yourself into a deeper hole because of unemployment and ever-mounting bills.
Life is hard and messy sometimes — and just because it’s Thanksgiving doesn’t mean that the pain and burdens are lifted. If this Thanksgiving finds you in a difficult place in life, may I encourage you to read my post on Hope for Women Magazine on Choosing to Be Thankful Even When Life is Hard?
Here’s a snippet:
My husband was rummaging through old financial statements not too long ago, and we were aghast to read some of the numbers. During the first year he was in law school, there were six months when we made less than $900 — and some months it was as low as $650.
I recall that season of our lives fairly vividly, but seeing those numbers on paper again after a number of years was a shock to our systems. I’m still not sure how we made it on so little!
During those years, we lived in a little basement apartment that only had four windows on one side. I could plug the vacuum cleaner into one outlet and vacuum the entire apartment without ever switching outlets…Click on over to read the full post.
Our struggles during the lean law school years pale in comparison to many of the struggles you are facing. But I hope that the words I shared might encourage some of you.
Don’t lose heart. Don’t lose hope.
Choose gratitude today — even when it feels impossible. It might not change any of your circumstances, but I promise that it will transform your attitude and lift your spirits.
A Heartfelt Word of Thanks to Each of You
By the way, can I just say thank you to each of you for everything you mean to me and how you bless me on a daily basis?
Thank you for your kind words, your encouragement, and your constructive criticism. Thank you for reading here, commenting, and emailing.
As those who know me well can attest to, my years of blogging have been a journey of growth, learning, and stretching for me. It’s not always been easy and I’ve made oh-so-many mistakes along the way, but God has taught me much through it and changed me from the inside out as a result of blogging.
It’s brought me from a place of insecurity, legalism, and being a people-pleaser to a place where I feel whole, free, and truly happy in who God has made me to be and what He has called me to. And you’ve been a part of that journey with me.
Whether you’ve read here for years or just weeks, THANK YOU from the bottom of my heart for reading here and being apart of the Money Saving Mom® Community. Words cannot express how much you mean to me and how much I’ve learned and grown as a direct result of each of you. I love each of you and am eternally grateful for you.
Happy Thanksgiving!
Steve Kobrin says
Thank you for your inspiration and strength! I know what it is like to have financial problems and ailing family members. I have to believe that I can rise to the occasion and make the most of things..
Allison says
Hi Crystal,
I have been reading your blog for almost a year. I started after my Mom bought your book and gave it to me on my birthday Feb 2014. I am thankful for your knowledge, insight, live lessons, and inspiration. I definitely don’t have it together but I know I can turn to your books and blog and get what I need to get started. My husband and I work full time (he’s in IT and I am a RN Case Manager) and we have a 3 year old. A perfect recipe for disaster. Luckily I have learned to be Thankful for what I have and know that life is a work in progress and it may never be perfect. But I can get pretty darn close!
Sincerely,
Allison
Crystal Paine says
Thanks so much for your kind encouragement!
Alisha Hughes says
Happy thanksgiving from Indiana! I have been thankful for your inspiration over the past few years. You make being practical and frugal look like so much fun! The freedom of living within your means is worth sacrificing for and getting creative for. I came to your site early on in my mommy years at the recommendation of a close friend and went on to share my new couponing knowledge with my MOPS group directing them to your site. May your faithfulness to this blog, and more importantly to God, continue to bless you, your family and those you touch!
Joan says
Thank you for all your ideas to help this working mom save money and time. I was bragging about your site to a 20-something male today. He liked your recommendation for the bread machine. He will be buying one soon. I told him that you were very frugal (shopping at Aldi’s, etc.), but if you were recommending this particular bread machine, it must be a good one.
Lisa Clark says
I’m thankful for having found your blog a few years ago, and for your willingness to invite readers into your journey. And I have a question for you, if it’s not asking too much. My youngest son is 17 and wants to be an attorney. He also wants to do it debt-free, largely inspired by me sharing stories of your family’s experiences. I’ve told him how you and Jesse lived simply, ate frugally, and took advantage of free entertainment to get through law school. Silas is determined to live in a van, if necessary (he read about a man getting his graduate degree living in a van), and I’m confident of his ability to live as sparingly as possible to accomplish his goal. He can use scholarships and the Pell Grant to pay for his undergraduate degree. But how did you and Jesse pay for law school? That’s the part I know nothing about. Any information you could share about that aspect of your journey would be helpful.
Crystal Paine says
Because Jesse went to law school in-state and got scholarships, plus chose a less expensive school, it was a LOT less than it would cost for going out of state to a more expensive school. So I’d highly recommend looking into discounts for attending law school in-state, check into prices of various law schools, as well as scholarships available at those law schools.
Jesse lived at home for all but one year until we got married, saved most everything he made at his jobs, and then his dad had set aside money into savings that he received after Jesse’s mom died (when he was 12) and that funded a large part of law school.
Davonne Parks says
Crystal, you are a blessing and inspiration to me. Happy thanksgiving!
Sarah says
Crystal,
I am so thankful for your journey as it has impacted so many women and families in a way that is lasting and life changing (for good!). Thanks for being authentic, persevering in what you do, and living your life outloud so that we can learn and be encouraged by you. I am sure there is much that is kept and saved for your family, but you share so much with us, and for that I am grateful. Happy Thanksgiving!
Sarah
Jennifer says
When I read about other people’s troubles, I realize that I am fairly oozing with good fortune. My family is healthy (knock on wood) and whole.
I’m taking a break from cooking them a Thanksgiving feast. And on this break, I’m sitting in a recliner in a warm house with a laptop that connects me to the world and a whole lot of really great people and ideas and opportunities. So, very, very many blessings for which I am thank God.
And thank you, Mrs. Paine, for sharing yourself with all of us 🙂
Nate @ Frugal Soldier says
Crystal,
A very timely post and I thank you for sharing. First of all your heart felt Thank You’s are so touching and anyone can easily see they are so genuine. I recently found your blog and am very thankful, but I do wish I could have been on that journey with you to see your progress – Because what I see now is truly awesome!
When we are in the moment of our hurts and pains it is so hard to see more than 10 feet in front of us, let alone look to the future for brighter days. But in saying that, you are so correct that if we make the effort to be thankful for what we have our spirits will be uplifted and in time our pain leads to experiences we can share to help others.
We all have something to be thankful for and we owe that to God. Give him thanks for our health, life, friends, roof over our head, clothes on our backs, our families, and so much more. If we dig deep enough we all can find a reason to have thanks.
Thank you for sharing such a heart felt post.
annie says
I am grateful this morning.
Yesterday my daughter was in a serious car accident. Angels watched over her. ThIs follows a year of detachment. My job loss, a hospitalization and loss of my health, and our emergency savings dwindling towards zero.
I am learning to remain childlike and keep an open hand for God to put anything He wants there.
Thank you for your blog Crystal, praying for your friend Michelle, and hopefully looking forward to seeing your gratitude journal under my Christmas tree.
annie says
I am grateful this morning.
Yesterday my daughter was in a serious car accident. Angels watched over her. This follows a year of detachment. My job loss, a hospitalization and loss of health for me, our emergency savings dwindling towards zero.
Im learning to remain child-like with an open hand, allowing God to put there anything He wishes.
Thank you, Crystal for your blog. I am praying for your friend Michelle.
Lora C says
Thank you for taking the time to share this. Today and the past few years have not been what I imagined my life would be…family drama and pain, health issues, etc. As I started typing this, tears filled my eyes. Although I’m struggling with my circumstances, I choose to be grateful for the many blessings that I have. Happy Thanksgiving!!!
mary says
Married in may 1974, we lived in Arvada Colorado in a brand new apt. building, we did not have a phone, by purpose…Happiest of our lives, I worked and had the usage of a phone in case of emergencies and my hubs worked at a retail grocery store..We were so happy, never heard from meddling relatives all the time we lived in Colorado..We saved so much money and had fun traveling all over the area and Kansas, new mexico and even texas and Nebraska we would just take off and enjoy our selves, we got a home soon thereafter we still traveled..I think the happiest of times when one has little and can really enjoy each other and their times spent together it doesn’t take money it takes ingenuity and happiness..I think today on Thanksgiving most people run after money and power and this and that when in fact if they have a roof over their heads, family to embrace and love, some fixins (food and hydration) they have so much to be thankful for..Happy turkey day and happy soon to be holidays! ciao!
brittney says
Great post. I’ve been struggling a little today because our thanksgiving has been a bit messed up this year. My husband is working, he has one of those jobs where its just not optional, and my daughter and I are at home alone today. But we are having fun watching the snow outside and the Macy’s parade. But I realize its all really minor and nothing to be sad about. We are still having a feast tonight and hopefully having some family over on Saturday for a big turkey dinner. Sometimes I have to sit down and count my blessings because for all the struggles we have there are so many more good things. God bless you and your family and I hope everyone has a wonderful Thanksgiving.
Crystal Paine says
I love your attitude! So inspiring! {Hugs!}
CJ says
Thanks for the reminder to be grateful in the wake of hard times. It’s been a hard year for me – 4 deaths in my family, lots of stress at work, unexpected expenses, etc. I’m trying to learn to just to take each day as it comes and not look too far ahead. I’m grateful for all of the blogs and online rewards sites that help me save 🙂
Crystal Paine says
{Hugs!} I’m so sorry that it’s been a hard year for you.