Thanksgiving is essential to the life of a believer. It is the key to a full and abundant life. It unlocks Joy within the heart. What one thing encompasses respect, maners, love, relief, and thoughtfulness but giving thanks?
I became a believer when I was 5 but in 2003 with a job loss I knew I needed a restart. Meloncholy was my draft setting. I was slumped at the window of life watching the world go by without me. It was a good time to try thanksgiving for a change. It was a small step that got bigger and bigger with each passing year.
Thanksgiving is like a pearl. It takes an irrantant wrapped and wrapped with praise to be something of great worth. It puts the focus on the Heavenly Father's Mighty Arms than the pungy pesky problems. To sum up Psalms 107 from wastelands, darkness, rebellious ways, lost at sea to thanksgiving ... the upright SEE and Rejoice but all the wicked are shut up.(v. 42).
I SAW God come through when we had major storm  on July 1st. There was massive cleanup to do at my parents' place. The house, garage, and fishing boats escaped structural damage but the winds shredded the ancient trees. There was so much damage that at lunchtime I noticed how defeated my Dad was. I called the brother to come help. While Dad and the brother got the chainsaws up and chewing, my 10 year old nephew and I pulled and hauled big branches to the road. From this hardship I found out my nephew was a talker!
See, the men in my life are quiet and when there are problems afoot they hunker down to process. I never want to be the cause of their silence so I have been seeking God in understanding the inner-workings of man. Having this moment of time with a little man with a fresh divorce in his childhood was God-Given and is a keeper for a lifetime. I hope my nephew felt valued from having my ears as an audience.
God wasn't done with my lesson. I had a longstanding question for my Heavenly Father. Men grow men. What if there are no Godly men to come along side and mentor your man? Can a God-seeking girl be a healing presence and God's instrument in her man's life? Bob and Cheryl Moeller were sharing their book "How to Get Your Husband to Talk" on a podcast. I had done three things right. During a shared activity, I listened and asked clarifying questions. God is so Good. His Arms are Mighty in every storm. I am so thankful to have the summer afternoon to be at the feet of Jesus listening to a little man!
This story seems a bit glossed over so let me fill you in with some of the not so glamorous parts. It was a hot day and hard work. We were a freak show as people drove by real slow to see the massive damage. There was no electricity for a week. Mom and Dad had to come use my guest bathroom. The stress spurred on the shingles for Dad in the months following. This was a hard blow.
This is NOT easy and some irritants get by us to take us out. Sometimes the vision gets blurry before we realize we need a time out -- a declaration that this day is a day of Thanksgiving to God and whisper not a need or care. What a difference it makes. God doesn't need the Praise for Himself but rather the puny human is in need of praising the Heavenly Father. We are forgetful -- oh so forgetful. The world loudly and noisily lies to us and we easily believe the lies and promptly forget the Truth. Thanksgiving gives you SIGHT to see and to boldly Rejoice in God's Sovereignty. He never stops protecting or providing for our every need.
I must stay this again - I never want to forget that summer afternoon that my ears were in the presence of my nephew drinking in his every word. Thank You, Heavenly Father, for such a wonderful gift!
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