Thank You

"Today, I'm grateful He shared that with me."

WRITING A Christmas story in the middle of June is difficult. Even if you surround yourself with Christmas tunes and hang the right lighting, for me, bein’ aware I live in Florida and it’s 90-something degrees outside always messes it up. So is our gratitude when the creek’s gone dry and the land looks barren. Our mood affects our thanks. Given a difficult year, the loss of a friend, and a dozen other things, what’s left in the pantry is probably canned tuna. Thanksgiving Day, and I’m searchin’ for bread and mayonnaise to make me a sandwich that ought to be turkey and dressin’.

Okay, this is an analogy. I’m not eatin’ tuna today. I am spending the day with family. But it has been a difficult year for me, so I’m left looking at crumbs and wishing they would grow into cake. I’m grateful my car made it another year. Ol’ Bess turned 20 this year and she’s as crotchety as ever, with a tire that leaks, windows that won’t roll down, and a whole lotta dirt, inside and out. But, hey, I have the best circa-1990s bass sound system, and you’ll hear me comin’. Not kidding about that.

I’m not so grateful for our refrigerator. It’s too small and filled with too many pickles. Who buys all this stuff? And why is half of it on the top shelf? Family. Who I am grateful for, because they’re mine and I love them. That especially includes the dog. Isabelle turned 8, and she’s still celebrating as much as you’ll feed her extra stuff. Oh, and chasing squ-s. That’s code for (lowers voice) squirrels. You say that, and she’s sure there is one.

Gratitude’s too personal. It means examining your heart and admitting your shortcomings, else it comes from the top of your head and not that deep place. At least, for me. Searching where the good stuff stays, I saw a video which I’m not sure why I need to tell you of it. Except God was extremely pleased, and today, I’m grateful He shared that with me. My apologies to Native Americans and Native Tribes of other regions that I don’t remember this man’s particular heritage, but he defended Israel, saying he would speak out against anti-Semitism because he was a Gatekeeper, the former head of his tribe who had always lived where they were. There you have it, such a powerful picture. There’s Israel, the people of God, on the land God had given them through Abraham, so long ago, and a man a half-a-world away who lives where God had placed him, amongst his people. In that video, they have his words in common.

Then there’s Andrea Bocelli singing “amen” in “The Blessing” with Kari Jobe and Cody Carnes. God bless it, that’s the most beautiful “amen” I’ve ever heard, and God’s heartbeat pounded in my chest, His breath filled my lungs. What I’m grateful for is intimacy. I heard that word replaced with others, and I get it; it makes you uncomfortable, but it’s what God wants. You have to be willing to lay down who you are and pick up who He is. He’s all for you, and all those things you like. But if you let them go and place them in His hands, then He will change you into someone marvelous. It’s there at the end of Matthew 11. The Amplified Classic is the most beautiful. A commentary I read pointed out that Jesus’ words were a comparison. “If you take up MY YOKE,” as compared to the world’s and religion’s and your own preferences, then you’ll find Him lowly (humble) and meek (gentle) of heart. If you don’t then He’s the stone you’re tripping over (1 Peter 2:8).

I’d rather stand in the stream of the Spirit and watch the selfish me wash away, and hear His voice, tender and near, and not be like I was month’s ago when I said, “The church never told me this.” That God was so understanding and kind. So grateful. Now, what does God have to be grateful for? Well, many things, but most of all that the Word He spoke did not return to Him void but it prospered (Isaiah 55:11), and from what we couldn’t see came the Lamb of God to save the world (Hebrews 11:3), came the Word of God in flesh, every action He made, every syllable He spoke, directly from heaven and so fruitful, they had to write it all down so we’d hear it.

Tell Him thank you today. And eat too much.

“Come to Me, all you who labor and are heavy-laden and overburdened, and I will cause you to rest. [I will ease and relieve and refresh your souls.] Take My yoke upon you and learn of Me, for I am gentle (meek) and humble (lowly) in heart, and you will find rest (relief and ease and refreshment and recreation and blessed quiet) for your souls. For My yoke is wholesome (useful, good—not harsh, hard, sharp, or pressing, but comfortable, gracious, and pleasant), and My burden is light and easy to be borne.” (Matthew 11:28-30 AMPC)

Photo by Kseniia Lopyreva on Unsplash


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Suzanne D. Williams, Author
www.suzannedwilliams.com
www.feelgoodromance.com