This Thanksgiving, we celebrated Christmas with our youngest daughter and her family because they would not be home again until spring. As the grandchildren opened their gifts, Kelly and Robbie would remind them to look at Mimi and Pop and say, “Thank you.” Once they opened one package, they were on to the next one; anxiously awaiting what was inside each box.
As we sat opening presents, I remembered back to the Christmas when I was a little girl and my brother enthusiastically and gratefully responded to every package he opened with, “Thank you, mom, thank you, dad!” He sounded like a scratched CD that repeats the same line over and over again! Yet, we knew he was genuinely grateful for what he had been given.
As I approached this Thanksgiving season, I began to reflect on the past six years of this incredible journey with the Lord. It all began with Mark feeling lead by Him to step down from the position he held on our church staff. Shortly thereafter, we received the news that Mark was suffering from a rare degenerative condition that would eventually rob him of his mobility. At that point, we were faced with selling our home and setting out on a “faith” journey. We were without a home and a job.
Six years ago, I would have never dreamed that I would have anything to be thankful for, life seemed so hopeless! I would say to Mark, “I feel so hopeless.” He would respond with, “But you’re not hopeless, you serve a God of hope.” I would respond, “I know, but I still feel hopeless.”
Looking back, I can see that God was using the pain, difficulty, and uncertainty of our circumstances to mold and shape us into the people we are today; the man and woman we would never have been apart from this journey. I can remember reading 1 Thessalonians 5:18, “Give thanks in all circumstances,” and thinking, “Certainly You can’t mean these circumstances, Lord!” Romans 8:28 was a very difficult passage for me the first three or four years of this journey, “And we know that in all things God works for the good of those who love him, who have been called according to his purpose.” I remember asking Mark, “But how can this be for our good? I can’t find any good in what God is allowing in our lives.”
Now being on this side of the desert, I can see much clearer than I ever could before. Being on this side of the desert, I have so much to be thankful for. God has given us water from a rock, He had fed us with manna, He has sheltered us with His presence and during the daytime and in the dark of night, He has given us His light to show us the way.
Thanksgiving is a time to reflect on the blessings of God, and six years later I find that I have many to reflect upon. I am genuinely grateful for each.
I am thankful that I know Him as my Strength, my Refuge, my Strong Tower, my Help, my Burden Bearer, my Peace, my Joy, my Sustenance, my Jehovah Jireh, my Provider, my Guide, my Rock, my Ever Present Help, my Creator, my Savior, my Lord, my Comfort, my Merciful God, my Fortress, my Delight, my Deliverer, my Justice, my Shield, my Reward, my Horn of Salvation, my Teacher, my Ruler, my Support, my Stronghold, my Powerful One, my Great King, my Faithful God, my Trust, my Most High God, my Redeemer, my Shepherd, my Rescue, my Praise, my Lord Almighty, my Healer, my God of Truth, my Pursuit, my Mighty One, my Pleasure, my Rest, my Exalted One, my Protector, my Love, my Life, my Heavenly father, my daddy- my Abba!
Oh, that my heart would continually enthusiastically and gratefully respond, “Thank you, Abba. Thank you, Abba.”
“Father, how very grateful I am that You chose the path of life You desired for us, knowing what was best and what You wanted to accomplish in us. In this season of thanksgiving may I reflect upon all You are to me. May I yield to Your hand and Your divine will. Oh, that the cry of my heart will continually be one of gratefulness and may I enthusiastically say, “Thank you, Abba. Thank you, Abba!”
“May God be gracious to us and bless us and make his face shine on us, so that your ways may be known on earth, your salvation among all nations. May the peoples praise you, God; may all the peoples praise you. May the nations be glad and sing for joy, for you rule the peoples with equity and guide the nations of the earth. May the peoples praise you, God; may all the peoples praise you. The land yields its harvest; God, our God, blesses us. May God bless us still, so that all the ends of the earth will fear him.” Psalm 67
“Cast your cares on the Lord and he will sustain you; he will never let the righteous be shaken. Psalm 55:22
“Trust in the Lord and do good; dwell in the land and enjoy safe pasture. Take delight in the Lord, and he will give you the desires of your heart. Commit your way to the Lord; trust in him and he will do this: He will make your righteous reward shine like the dawn, your vindication like the noonday sun.” Psalm 37:3-6
“I will praise God’s name in song and glorify him with thanksgiving.” Psalm 69:30
dianne