This time of year with papers and exams right around the corner, the tendency is to gripe and complain. Stress gets in the way of truly thankful times. Often our best intensions are shadowed by anxiety, sometimes depression and just void of energy.
I am reminded of the words of the Apostle Paul to the church: "be thankful continually." That is an extremely hard thing to do, when a paper is due the next day and you haven't even begun your research.
The other night our family sat around our fire pit in our backyard. As we sat there I had a God moment. My God moment was a flash of inspiration in which God wanted to speak to us as a family. I knew I had to obey. I asked for each of us to go and get a piece of wood from our firewood box. With each person holding a small piece of wood, I asked them to gave thanks to God for one thing. It was amazing to watch and listen to my elementary aged children to go around, Our middle daughter began: "I am thankful for today and for my family." It continued... "I am thankful for God and my family, and my friends.", "I am thankful for this fire, food and dad and mom and my sisters, buddy and slipper (our dogs), our fish and my bed." Then as an act of sacrifice, we all threw our thanksgiving stick into the fire. There was silence that ensued. As I looked at my children, simple tears welled up in my eyes because my children caught it- they were simply and authentically being thankful to God. It reminded me that the simple things that we sometimes overlook are precious in the eyes of children.
Jesus reminded us that we wouldn't see the kingdom unless we demonstrated simple faith. This simple faith relates to being thankful in simple ways: "Thanks for the sunrise today God.", "Thanks for fresh clean water to drink.", "Thanks for food on our table.", "Thanks for a warm bed.", "Thanks for the opportunity to study at Prairie.", "Thanks for friends.", "Thanks for my Family.", "Thanks for this term paper." I wonder sometimes if God can't wait for thanksgiving because we often neglect being thankful at other times of the year. I can see God, pulling up to the table and saying I can't wait to hear my kids give thanks. It is beautiful. May this thanksgiving be a truly beautiful time of year to share our simple faith with God and others.
I am reminded of the words of the Apostle Paul to the church: "be thankful continually." That is an extremely hard thing to do, when a paper is due the next day and you haven't even begun your research.
The other night our family sat around our fire pit in our backyard. As we sat there I had a God moment. My God moment was a flash of inspiration in which God wanted to speak to us as a family. I knew I had to obey. I asked for each of us to go and get a piece of wood from our firewood box. With each person holding a small piece of wood, I asked them to gave thanks to God for one thing. It was amazing to watch and listen to my elementary aged children to go around, Our middle daughter began: "I am thankful for today and for my family." It continued... "I am thankful for God and my family, and my friends.", "I am thankful for this fire, food and dad and mom and my sisters, buddy and slipper (our dogs), our fish and my bed." Then as an act of sacrifice, we all threw our thanksgiving stick into the fire. There was silence that ensued. As I looked at my children, simple tears welled up in my eyes because my children caught it- they were simply and authentically being thankful to God. It reminded me that the simple things that we sometimes overlook are precious in the eyes of children.
Jesus reminded us that we wouldn't see the kingdom unless we demonstrated simple faith. This simple faith relates to being thankful in simple ways: "Thanks for the sunrise today God.", "Thanks for fresh clean water to drink.", "Thanks for food on our table.", "Thanks for a warm bed.", "Thanks for the opportunity to study at Prairie.", "Thanks for friends.", "Thanks for my Family.", "Thanks for this term paper." I wonder sometimes if God can't wait for thanksgiving because we often neglect being thankful at other times of the year. I can see God, pulling up to the table and saying I can't wait to hear my kids give thanks. It is beautiful. May this thanksgiving be a truly beautiful time of year to share our simple faith with God and others.
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