Friday, October 11, 2013

Dear God,

We call each other Pal, we have for many years.  She is my sister.  My heart warms every time we get together or talk by phone.  She is a gift.

So often we want more from you.  Daily we ask for more.  We want safety and good health for our loved ones.  We want our job situation to be better.  We want enough food and medicine to keep us going.  We want certain situations to change.  We want to win the lottery.  We want our nation and world to change.  We lay all this at your feet.  God, please do this or please do that, we say pleading our case.  But rarely do we pause to assess what we already possess.  We fail to look at the gifts you have already given us.

And what about church?  We complain that the church is a failure if it doesn't titillate our senses, if the people are not friendly enough, if we don't like the music or the pastor's message, or it is boring or dull or if our souls are not warmed.  But what if we went to church just to say thanks for what we already possess.  Good Lord, how much more do we deserve, if we can't even go to say thank you?

When I pause daily to give thanks, my outlook changes and so does my perspective.  I see from a full cup rather than an empty one.  I realize how blessed I am.  I live out of joy rather than want.  I glow with your light when I live in gratitude. I give back.  I want to express my thanksgiving.  I am aware that all of life is gift because even when it is bad or difficult, I can find something good in it.  I can find you.

Thank you,
Precious Lord,
for daily gifts.
Thank you
for my sister
and the air
I breathe.
Thank you
for love
and mercy.
Thank you
for faith
and the ability
to offer thanks.
Thanks for
a deep awareness
of your light
in this world.
Thank you.

Love always, Andrea