Sunday, September 27, 2015

Dear God,

Gratitude...that was my first thought when I awakened early this morning...gratitude.  "I am alive and I thank you, dear Lord."  I whispered to you.  Sixty nine years ago I was born on this day and I have faced threats and the realities of cancer and much more.  Memories of my life swept over me and I gave thanks for your compassion that I have been able to come to this beautiful moment of gratitude.

As I reflected upon all the blessings of my life, I realized the best gift I ever received was the gift of faith, a trust in you, a relationship built over the decades, and a wondrous sweeping grace that held me up during storms and turbulence.  Faith challenged me at every level of life, stop, pause, and listen, stretch and grow, risk and take a chance, be willing to shift and change, and allow transformation to take place.

As I purposefully breathed in the light of your love, I realized how much you lighted the path for my journey of faith, how you blessed me with hands that reached out, how you put your song in my heart, how you inspired and questioned me about great matters, how you called me to ministry, and touched me deeply with family and friends.

Even before I rose from my bed this morning, you poured out your oil of gladness upon me and filled me with praise.

Eternal God,
what a
loving God
you are.
Thank you
for shaping
my life
with your
own hands.
Thank you
for changing me
into your image.
Forgive me
for all
the ways
I have
failed you.
Let me
bless you
with faith,
joy, and service.

Forever yours, Andrea