Tag: thanksgiving

Thank You

I came home from grocery store complaining about people in the grocery store.

I complained about unexpected things happening and ‘ruining’ my plans for the day.

I griped when the maraschino cherry juice spilled on the counter, the cabinet, the floor and stained my fingers.

Xena, the wonder dog, awakened me 5 times during the night to go outside. I guess her tummy was upset. I was not happy.

Shall we shift focus, please?

Lord, thank you for food and the money to buy it. Thank you for the variety of choices and the vehicles to get us to and from the stores. Thank you for safe travel.

Father, I pray for these seemingly angry people in the store. Perhaps they are missing a loved one, lost their job, or are going to be alone. Maybe I can only give them a smile. Please help it be sincere.

You, God, direct my steps. I make my plans but You have the final say. Perhaps the delay kept me from running into traffic. Lord, You know the number of my days. Help me to live for You.

Thank you for this house, Lord. I am grateful that I have a space to prepare and store food. I have a switch that changes from heat to cool quickly. Thank you that I can still move my body to clean things off the floor and to open jars. Thank you for your provision. I am also grateful for the people in the house.

And Father, I am thankful that Xena, the wonder dog, awakens me when she needs to go outside. I’m grateful that she has been the best dog and in my life for the past 10 years. I am thankful that she is feeling better.

Please, Lord, bless our time this afternoon with family and friends. Change my heart of stone to one of flesh. I think protecting my heart keeps me safe but that is a lie.

Living with and blessing others with the joy and light of the Lord is what this world needs.

And I want others to know You too. How can I show that with a callous heart? How can I show Your light if I want to be dim and dark?

Change me, O Lord. Thank You in advance. Give me Your words to share with others.

Amen.

The Day After

It’s Friday. The day after Thanksgiving. It’s a day full of emotions – most of which are not pretty.

No shopping. No get togethers. A lot of alone time with my mind. Not always the best combination.

My family is fractured. I realize it most days but holidays really puts an emphasis on it. Maybe even triple the normal amount of exclamation points.

Whether it’s through death, divorce, obstinance, hurt, not everyone is together.

If I’m not careful, these thoughts will consume me. I will become upset, hateful and bitter. If I travel down this path, I wonder why isn’t she talking with me? Did I offend someone? Why do people use their kids as a weapon? Why can’t we be adults and talk about whatever the problem is?

And then I start to make up answers. If only…well, maybe this is the reason why…or I’m sure they feel this way. Not helpful.

I begin to lose focus on what a good time we had yesterday. The 17 of us that were together laughed and ate and shared. We remembered the rolls but forgot mom’s sweet potato casserole in the microwave. Memories were made.

So once again I have a choice as to what to fix my mind on. Do I let the walls that other people have surrounding their hearts surround my heart too or do I concentrate on what is right in front of me? Love, family and friends. Not to mention the fried turkey and cheesecake.

So thankful for Jesus – who never changes, who always loves, always pursues. It is in Him that I place my heart, my wounds, my hope. He promises to restore, to heal, to never leave us alone.

I hate that our family is fractured. But, I must continue to choose to love. I must continue to pray. I must continue to hope.