I sat on the ground by my dad’s gravesite, eyeing this cross. Even though he walked with Jesus now, I told my daddy about life here on earth for the last ten years. With tears falling to the ground, I shared our family news with him.
“Dad, your grandchildren are nearly all grown up and you have two great-grandchildren. Mom is quite weak as she receives dialysis regularly and we all takes turns helping her. I sure would enjoy a hug from you right now!” I said.
Wiping tears and rising up with renewed strength, I walked away from the dead planted in the earthly graveyard. Life’s daily needs summoned me, pulling me away from the past and placing me into the present. Time to do today’s work while mentally preparing for the coming season. Another Christmas awaits us. Our family grows older, old ones grow weaker. The world seems to wander further away from God while He continues to work among His creation. What changes lie in our future?
When I left the cemetery, I decided to be thankful—appropriate for the current Thanksgiving holiday. Even though we should render daily thanks to the God who loves us, a celebrated day of Thanksgiving gives us reason to purposely offer gratitude for His many blessings. I’ve been thankful since my graveyard visit.
Heavenly Father, thank you for your love. Knowing I have a Daddy God who cares for me despite my failure fills me with joy. Thanks, Lord Jesus, for exchanging on the cross your righteousness for my sinfulness. How humbling is the thought of your sacrifice for me.
Thank you, Lord, for blessing me with a loving earthly mother and father who cared for me and my sisters. Thanks for blessing me with a loving husband and two children. Father God, thanks for walking with me through the loss of my dad and the years of separation from my daughter. Thank you for bringing her home and declaring the promise of a good future for her. Thanks for my son and his wife who have blessed us with two beautiful grandchildren. Oh the joys and sorrows of the cycle of life. Thanks for your love exemplified through family and friends. Thanks for friends who lift me up when I’m down and speak your words of life over me. Thank you for prayer warriors who bow the knee with me in praise and pain to you, our Faithful and True Lord and Savior. Enable us, Lord Jesus, to daily live for you with thankful hearts, rejoicing in your Light that guides us while we live life in a dark world. Help us to gaze at your beauty and not the ugliness of sin. Forgive us for our part in the wickedness covering this earth. Thanks for your cleansing grace extended to us even while we are sinners. May we continually look to you with fresh eyes of faith, trusting you completely. Today as we celebrate the first day of Advent, anticipating your birthday, prepare our hearts for your presence, Jesus. Sweep every corner clean and make your home in the core of our beings. Nestle close and settle into our souls, allowing us to rest in the intimacy of your birth once more. Take us to your cross to humbly bow at your feet, releasing burdens, receiving deliverance. We rejoice with thanksgiving. Jesus, we pray in your holy and precious name, AMEN. Give thanks to the Lord, for he is good.
His love endures forever.
Give thanks to the God of gods.
His love endures forever.
Give thanks to the Lord of lords:
His love endures forever.
Give thanks to the God of heaven.
His love endures forever. Psalm 136:1-3,26 (NIV)
His love endures forever. Psalm 136:1-3,26 (NIV)
“Gratitude does more than make us feel good. It helps us become more resilient. ——Michael Hyatt
Enjoy Crowder’s song entitled “Come As You Are”….
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