Thankful on the Remaining 364 Days of the Year
Not ALL—
- Marriages survive.
- Wayward children return.
- Crisis end happily.
- People live to be old.
- Medical tests bring good results.
- Jobs keep going when organizations struggle.
Painful events come into our lives, and some of the days we walk through are just days of pain, but there is much (still) to be thankful for as each morning is given to us.
There is a man in the Bible who seemed to have it ALL: a wife, children, wealth, property, friends, and fame. This man’s name was Job, and if you know Job’s backstory, then you know how the LORD allowed Satan to swoop in and take it ALL from Job. Satan just knew that when he did (take everything precious away from Job) then this man would curse God and turn away from following God.
“So are the paths of all who forget God;
(The Book of Job 8: 13-15 NASB)
And the hope of the godless will perish,
Whose confidence is fragile,
And whose trust a spider’s web.
He trusts in his house, but it does not stand;
He holds fast to it, but it does not endure.”
However, that’s not how the narrative plays out, even though for a time, Job did struggle to understand why the LORD was allowing this pain and struggle. Yes, Job struggled to understand, to grasp the enormity of ALL that he had lost, but if we read throughout the entire book, then we come to the conclusion, and we read Job’s repentance of his sins, Job’s prayer for his friends, and LORD’S blessings that follow. We See: Heaven Truly Is the Ultimate Hope!
The world may wonder why the Bible narratives exist, why we still need to read them, even over and over. ALL life-battles and ALL life-situations are found on the pages of God’s Word.
“For whatever was written in earlier times was written for our instruction, so that through perseverance and the encouragement of the Scriptures we might have hope.”
(The Letter of Paul to the Romans 15: 4 NASB)
Maybe we have awakened to a day filled with too much toil and trouble. Quite possibly, we opened our eyes only to squeeze them tight, for we knew what today would bring.
- The trouble could be a marriage that is struggling to survive. &
- The heartache quite possibly might be wayward children have not returned.
- Unfortunately, ALL turmoil we will face does not end happily. &
- Also, unfortunate is that ALL people do not live to be old.
- There are times when our medical tests do not bring good results. &
- There are jobs that fail to keep going when organizations struggle to stay afloat.
These are the times when we step into the ‘thanksgiving’ season and really struggle to do what we ought: To Give Thanks. Last night, after an exhausting day of teaching, of driving, of doing this task and that, I returned home and lowered my tired body onto the couch. While my family watched Jeopardy, I dozed off to sleep. Throughout the next two hours, I moved between sleep and slight wakefulness; however, right before bed (during one of my sleepy moments), I was awakened to a kiss on my forehead as my adult daughter kissed me goodnight. BLESSINGS & JOY & GRATITUDE COMES IN BATTALIONS!
- Will we ever learn to pay attention to our blessings, to our joy? &
- Will we ever learn to be thankful and grateful for ALL the BLESSINGS that come from the LORD?
Blessings—Joy—Gratefulness. We have so much to be thankful for ALL the days we live.
- I am so thankful for siblings, ones who have chosen to follow Jesus, who I share with as brothers and sisters-in-Christ.
- I am so thankful for the opportunity to write, for words the LORD provides, for thoughts to share, and if you are reading—for you.
- I am so thankful for good friendships, both friends from years gone by and for new friends who God walks into my life.
- I am so thankful to have our daughter and her family home, even living in our home with us while they remain in transition.
- I am so thankful for a church family, one who shares time with me each week, who prays with me, studies God’s Word with me, and encourages me as we walk through life together.
- I am so thankful for an aging mother, one who we can honor and care for, even as her body fails and causes her health troubles.
I am so thankful for my husband of thirty-nine years, nine months, and X number of days. Lord willing, we will celebrate our 40th Anniversary right after the start of the new year. I wonder if my husband realizes how thankful I am for him? I wonder because so many times I fail to tell him. Without complaint, my Darrell—
- Repairs and builds items that are broken around our home (like back porches, appliances, etc.)
- Installs new glass doors (TWICE) when I break the new first one that he had installed.
- Keeps our property looking nice (mowing, trimming, and doing all that is necessary on the farm and around the home).
- Carries and pacifies babies when they are fussy.
- Guards and protects our home and our lives from harm.
- Leads our family spiritually, following God’s direction.
Today, I wonder if he knows how thankful, how grateful I really am for him? Quite possibly I need to remind him, lifting my voice to tell him so.
As we step toward the day set aside for ‘Thanksgiving,’—
- May we NOT forget ALL the blessings the LORD provides.
- May we count our blessings, naming them one-by-one.
- May we remain thankful on the remaining 364 days of the year, just as we are on the one day set aside to say, “thanks.”
- May we also place our focus, our eyes of faith on Jesus, the only One who brings deep, abiding peace. &
- May we be grateful, thankful, NOT just in this time of the Thanksgiving season but on ALL 365 days.
- May we praise God, the One who sent His Only Son, Who made the only way to come to know God, to receive the gift of His salvation, and to receive the eternal prize of heaven.