I hope this isn’t too personal, but I have this one pair of jeans I call the “breathing optional” jeans. I was going somewhere the other day wearing the death jeans, and I told my daughter something like, “Now if Mommy passes out, nevermind the CPR. UNBUTTON the jeans.”

And as a motherly disclaimer, I had to add, “Don’t look directly at that top button. One bad thread and it could put an eye out.” I really would hate it if I had to explain in the ER how my daughter got a concussion or something from a blue jeans button turned bazooka. I was so thankful that we made it home from our little outing without either of us having lost consciousness.

Speaking of being thankful, just because the Thanksgiving season is past, we’re not off the thankfulness hook. The Bible reminds us from cover to cover to always be thankful. Ephesians 5:20 says that we should be, “always giving thanks to God the Father for everything, in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ” (NIV). How often? Always!

That’s the thanks goal I’m setting for myself–to be thankful always–for every breath. Especially for every breath that doesn’t rocket a button.

Rhonda Rhea rrhea@juno.com