There are three more days
until Thanksgiving. Some look forward to a wonderful time with family and
friends. Others believe their day of celebration won't begin until the last
serving dish is placed on the dining room table. Some people believe they have
nothing to be thankful for.
The eastern seaboard was
ravished by the super storm not many weeks ago. Many of them are still out of
their homes. They have not had the basic necessities of food, water, shelter,
utilities or clothing. At this point, turkey, dressing and cranberry salad seem
out of the question. For them, Thanksgiving: the celebration and/or the attitude, may be
rejected. In the hole in the heart were Thanksgiving lived, anger,
hopelessness, helplessness and fear may have moved in and set up residence. But,
Paul tells us in 1st Thessalonians, we are to give thanks in all circumstances,
not just when things are going well.
All of our lives have periods
when storm clouds gather, when darkness hovers overhead and spills its deadly
deluge, drowning out our comfort, safety and life-giving shelter. That may come
in the form of a hurricane, fire, the death of a parent or spouse, or the ugly,
family destroying specter of divorce. Whatever our storm, new life comes with
the dawn. Our ability to embrace life after the storm depends upon how willing
and quickly we begin to express thankfulness.
I would like to give you a prescriptive,
healing message to use to jumpstart your hope–loving heart, allowing it to beat
freely again. Repeat it three times, six times a day.
"Praise
the Lord God Almighty, for he has brought me through the wilderness of my soul
and has planted my feet on higher ground."
Each time you repeat the
message set, know that you have sowed it in your heart. Then, go about your day
knowing that God has blessed you and that the seeds of gratitude and hope are
growing. As your thankful heart grows, pass on the message of gratitude to
others. It will multiply and return to you in greater measure. Live a life of
thanksgiving that you may truly live, every day, the life the Lord God has
intended for you. Let us pray:
“Holy Father, love divine, open
wide this grateful heart of mine. Holy is your name, the name of your son Jesus
and the Holy Spirit that gives wisdom and discernment. Fill my life with your
spirit and your gentle gift of gratitude. No matter my circumstances, I have
things for which to be thankful, yet I have chosen to want more no matter my blessings.
Though I have shelter and clothing, I long for a bigger home. Though I have a
spouse and children, I desire a more perfect family. Though I have lost
everything, I do not give thanks for the gift of your son and his sacrifice and
redeeming love. Though all has been removed and I am left with zero, you Lord
dwell in the void and it is holy ground, yet I choose not to begin again. Forgive
me when I dwell on my loss and refuse to accept my future. Today and this week,
I choose to live a life of Thanksgiving. Let me see your blessings all around me,
in the smallest places. May I have the privilege of passing joy and gratitude
on to others. In the name of Jesus, your son and my redeemer, I pray. Amen”
Doris
Copyright 2012 Doris Gaines Rapp
No comments:
Post a Comment