YOU'VE REALLY BEEN GOOD TO ME

Today is the last day of what some call a “Month of Thanksgiving.” Many have used this occasion to post a different thing every day for which they are thankful. I have enjoyed reading the diverse assortment of important things in the lives of my friends. One of the striking characteristics of their thankfulness is that very few material things were listed. We put so much importance on jobs, houses, automobiles, clothing and, of course, the latest electronics but when we actually take the time to give thanks, it is about friends, family, relationships, life and health.

A couple of weeks ago, I decided to clean out the filing cabinet. Perched on a stool, with the shredder on the kitchen counter and a stack of file folders to sort, the purging began. It began as a methodical exercise; limiting the archives to this year’s statements, important contracts and year- end tax returns, shredding previous year’s paperwork and emptying the shredder, over and over. After the files were purged, shredded, renamed for new accounts and organized, I moved on to old check files. Ten years of old checks were just begging to be fed to the hungry shredder, when an attitude of gratitude inserted itself into the process.

I began to look at the canceled checks and realized they told the story of my life for the past 10 years. There were checks to mortgage companies paying for a house, a cottage and a church/office building. I had to take a praise break! Thank you Lord for a beautiful home, memories of summer fun at the cottage and for all the hearts that were touched and changed at the church. More checks, this time with the names of several friends and family members; birthdays, Christmas, weddings, anniversaries, new babies and other special occasions. Thank you Lord for each person you have allowed to share my life and thank you for allowing me to bless them as they have blessed me. I moved on to checks for utilities, insurance, home maintenance, car payments all of which I’m sure were complained about at the time but now represented a bounty of blessings from God. Another praise break! I’m thankful for warmth in the winter, cool air in the summer, the freedom to travel short and long distances and the finances to cover all the repairs. There were payments to doctors, dentists, and even the government. Thank you for good health, root canals and caps and enough wealth to pay taxes. (Not happy about the taxes but thankful for a good job.) Finally, there were checks to charities and tithes and offerings to church. Thank you, God that you provided all of our needs, many of our wants and enough to share with those less fortunate. You really cannot out give God.

As I returned to the task of shredding, my heart was overwhelmed by the goodness of God. He truly is Jehovah-Jireh, my provider. The “Month of Thanksgiving” may have come to an end but the gratefulness continues year round. Lord, you’ve really been good to me.

SO I TAUGHT YOU TO TRUST GOD

When you began to walk, I wanted to keep you from falling, I could not so I stood by ready to pick you up, bandage the scrapes and kiss away the tears. When it was time for you to enter kindergarten, I wanted to protect your young ears and eyes from the influences of an evil world, I could not so I taught you to turn away from evil and toward the beauty of God. When you joined your friends on the playground, I wanted to protect you from the bullies, the teasing and their hurtful words, I could not so I provided a loving home you could always run to and told you about a “friend that would never leave you or forsake you.” As you approached adulthood, I wanted to keep you from failing, but I could not, so I taught you to get up and try again, that the mercies of God are new every morning and by never giving up you would achieve success. As you began to win and life’s success came your way, I wanted to protect you from the pitfalls of pride, I could not so I taught you to be thankful and give all Glory to God. Now you are a man and I would still like to protect you from the world, but I cannot so I stand by and watch with a prayerful heart as you prepare your children to deal with their own scrapes and bruises.

On Saturday, my youngest son, Phil and his wife Holly faced the hardest trial of their life; saying goodbye to their little son, Timothy Lee. I wanted to run, pick him up and kiss away the tears but I could not so in prayer I asked our Heavenly Father to surround him with His love. I knew that my sadness at the loss of my little grandson could not compare to the grief Phil and Holly were experiencing as their tiny son was born. Sunday afternoon, Phil posted the following words to his friends and family:

“Unfortunately, we have sad news to report. On Saturday, Holly and I found that the baby we were expecting died in utero 16 weeks into the pregnancy. Holly delivered little Timothy Lee Niswonger on 11/13 at 4:24 pm. As I held him, I knew that he had been created by the very hand of God. We appreciate all of your prayers as we get through this. Praise be to God.”

The tests we face in life are never the specific events but our response to the events. Phil, I have never been more proud of you as I watch your strength and faith in action during this most difficult time. I may not be able to bandage the scrapes, wipe away the tears or make the pain go away but I know that you will keep holding to God’s unchanging hand and that He will guide you through the dark nights to the joy of the morning.

I CAN CLIMB, IF YOU HELP

We have lived in Tennessee about a month now and we were so excited to have our two grandsons come for a visit. They brought their mom and dad with them, but as all grandparents know, our hearts really long for the grandkids. I stocked the pantry with kid-friendly food, prepared the beds and hauled out the toys. We planned various activities, including a trip to our local park. The park has a walking path that meanders over a creek and is beautifully decorated with several fall displays. Of course the most important features of the park are the various play areas along the walking path. There are swings, slides, monkey bars, a pretend stage coach and several other things on which to swing, climb, hang and bounce. We rounded a curve and an area caught Caleb’s eye; the climbing wall. Nathan followed close behind because anything his 3 1/2 year old brother can do, 1 1/2 year old Nathan will try.

Caleb immediately figured out the hand and foot holds and after watching his brother for a few minutes, Nathan decided to give it a try. His little legs wouldn’t reach the first foot holds and his little arms didn’t have the strength to pull his body up the wall. After watching his desire and struggle for a few seconds, Mommy and Grandma immediately moved in to help. His face lit up with a big smile as he peeked over the top of the wall. VICTORY!!! It didn’t matter that he needed a little boost; someone a little older and stronger to help him to the top, all Nathan cared about was that he had reached the top and was viewing the world from a whole new perspective.

Now of course that is my Grandbaby and my heart melts with compassion at the least little cry for help no matter what situation he has gotten himself into, but what about the new baby in Christ. What about our Brother or Sister in the Lord who has been going to church long enough to “know better?” Do we rush in with a helping hand and strong arm or do we merely watch from the sidelines with a sharp tongue?

Ecclesiastes 4:9-10 says,” Two are better than one because they have a good reward for their labor, for if they fall, one will lift up his companion. But woe to him who is alone when he falls, for he has no one to help him up.” Recently, Steve preached a sermon entitled, “Walk together or Fall Alone.” He reminded us that we need each other. If you have been serving the Lord for any length of time, you know that we all experience times of weakness and discouragement. We may be able to, as David, “encourage ourselves in the Lord,” but how much sweeter the journey becomes when we have a brother or sister to walk along beside us.

The words of an old song come to mind, “If I can help somebody as I travel along, then my living will not be in vain.” I have a responsibility, not just for my own walk with God but to lend a helping hand to a struggling brother or sister along the way. There are time we could all use a little boost whether it’s a strong arm giving a little hug, an encouraging word, knowing someone is taking the time to pray especially for my situation or a friendly phone call letting me know I was on God’s mind. Extend a hand to someone today, climb together and share the glorious view at the top with a fellow traveler; we are in this life together.