Thankfulness

Donna Braman

THANKFUL IN ALL SITUATIONS

I am filled today with such a thankful heart I hardly know where to begin.  But I thank the Lord this morning for the people who are a blessing to me, my family and friends and neighbors, the children in my life, for my brothers and sisters in Christ, for pastors and teachers who are a part of my life, for those who have loved me even when I was not so loveable, for the friend who built my deck, for the people he put in my life to serve and to help. I even am thankful for the thoughtful postman I have.

    Thank you Lord for the many ways You use these people to meet my needs, brighten my path, and lighten my load, to enrich my knowledge of You, and to counsel or correct or nourish me, building me up in the faith. How good and how pleasant it is to enjoy rich fellowship with those who love You!  Thank you Lord for every person you have brought into my life.

     I am thankful for those who have been in my life that have disappointed me, for I know we all have flaws, and that only you are flawless.  I'm thankful Lord that you have taught me to love even those with an ugly edge, and not to force others to meet my needs, for You are the only one that can meet my deepest needs and You are the one that is always available.  This makes me even more glad to have You as my deepest love, a friend that is always there.  My wonderful counselor, my ever present help in trouble, available around the clock.  How wonderful that I belong to You, the pure, unpolluted source from which all downstream love flows.  So I delight in people here in my earthly world, but first and last I come to You, the only perfect person, the only ideal person, the only One whose love is flawless, the only One who is worthy of my highest praise.  O, God, who is like You? There is none to compare with YOU!

     Some of the people who have hurt me the worst are the ones who drove me to your feet, upon Your Love 

to feed.  I'm grateful too, through all life's way no one could satisfy and so I found in You my rich and full supply.

     I am most thankful to You Lord for my husband, for each specific strong point and admirable quality you gave to me in my life partner.  Thank You for bringing us together, and for the way Your love sweetens our earthly love! I bless and praise You Lord for the many benefits You have given me through this dear one called my husband.  He lifts me up when I'm down.  He loves me even when I get an attitude, he loves me when I look my worst, he hurts when I hurt and he laughs with me over the silly, funny things. But most of all He loves You and we both make our home a house of love for you, that foundation I am so very blessed to have.

     Thank You Lord that we get to share our life, rewards, and inheritance with YOU.  Who can compare with You?  You are the strength of my life, and my portion forever.  Thank You that You are so vastly wonderful, so utterly and completely delightful, that You can meet and overflow the deeper love I have for you onto others.  My tower, My stronghold and Your name is Yeshua (Jesus).

     I thank You today Lord for my son, that beautiful wonderful gift you gave me 26 years ago that took my heart and love as he was laid upon my chest to nurture.  He has been a blessing to me ever since, even when he threw down in the floor at 2 years old fighting sleep, even when he spilled the bucket of paint on the new carpet at 9, even when he poured my Paul Mitchel shampoo on the hall floor for a makeshift slip and slide at 7, even when he whispered something ugly to me at age 12 and got whapped on the back end. He is all grown up now and graduated from UNC in 2007 and is in China teaching children English for a year. He is still the catcher of my heart.  The goodness of him far outweighs the natural behaviors of growing up.  I love the unique mind he has and the visible kindness like when he brought me breakfast in bed at 11. All the bear and eskimo kisses in elementary school, all the paintings he did that reflects his inner beauty. The consciousness he has to beautify and keep God's earth clean and natural.  He loved me still even when I got frustrated as he taught me this thing called COMPUTER, networking and widgets and all that goes with being a writer these days. Most of all I love him for taking the time to spend those days with me at church and building me a raised garden bed like Martha Stewart's before he left for China.  I pray blessings, protection and guidance from the Lord to Him and that the Lord will give him peace and joy throughout his life.   

SEED WORD:

I ask each and everyone of you to take the time today to get a piece of paper and write down the people you are thankful for and why and tell them.  Don't leave out the people who have angered you, hurt you or disappointed you, for even those relationships we are to be thankful for as they help mature us in the Lord and teach us the fruit of the spirit. Write down the blessings the Lord has provided for you, your health, your job, the food on your table, the family members, and thank him for the provision he gives you that enables you to GIVE to others in need.  Don't forget to share your meal this Thanksgiving to a shut in, to a lonely neighbor, or to simply go out of your way to lift someone up who is struggling with something, a word of comfort or a word in prayer!