Thoughts at Thanksgiving

My signature verse for more years than I care to remember is Philippians 1:3-4, "I thank God every time I remember you. In all my prayers for you, I always pray with joy." The reason I chose this verse as my signature verse is drawn from the belief that every person who has touched my life has helped shape me into the person that I am. They have all become a part of, as Edith Schaffer said in her biography of her husband, the Tapestry of my life.

I am truly thankful for every person who has come into my life. Naturally this includes the parents who gave me life and nurtured me through childhood. Many, if not all, of my core belief came from watching and listening to them as they lived their lives before me. Virtues, like loyalty, keeping confidences, bull dog tenacity and forgiveness, were learned from them. I learned that failing and making mistakes did not make me a failure if I learned from them. Today I am thankful for the parents to which God gave me. I rise up an praise them.

I am thankful for my wife. She has been my friend and lover since the days of our youth. She has stood by me even when I made mistakes and bone-headed decisions. During the early years of ministry she was without question a helpmate par excel lance and is a comfort in my old age. I cannot even imagine my life without her in it. "many women do noble things, but you surpass them all."

I am thankful for the children that God brought into our home. Each one has brought joy to my heart and have made me proud as they have grown to adulthood. I am also grateful for the brood of grandchildren that they have presented me. It many ways "my quiver is full" and I am blessed.

For friends both old and new. You have brought joy and heartache but through it all you have helped me become a better person. I am especially thankful for those who have loved and cared for me through bad times. You will never know how much you have helped when I, like Humpty Dumpty, fell and broke into what seemed a million pieces. You enabled me to pick up the pieces, put it back together and go forward. You have shown me the love of God and I thank you for being my friend.

I am even thankful for the enemies I have had along the way. To be sure you are a small group and I wished that you did not exist at all. However, along the way I have found a few who befriended my only to do me harm - who took delight in my falling - who offered no uplifting word or hand. I am thankful for you because you too have helped shape my life. I've learned to have a tough hide and a tender heart.

But most of all I am thankful for a God who is both personal, faithful and involved; A God who loves me and redeemed me; A God who orders my steps and feels my infirmities; A God who picks me up when I fall; and a God who will one day welcome me into His eternal presence.

It is a good thing to give thanks unto the Lord, and to sing praises unto Thy name, O Most High: To show forth thy lovingkindness in the morning, and thy faithfulness every night" - Psm 92:1-2

Let us give thanks for we are truly blessed