As part of my Lenten work, I am following a bookmark that our church gives out with a Bible reading for each day on one side and suggestions on how to spend fifteen minutes in devotional time on the other side.
I have told you that I got way off schedule right at the beginning of Lent and I never really got back on track until this week. I have a couple of weeks off, so I hope to get my act together.
One of the things that the bookmark suggests to do is praise God for the goodness in your life and give thanks. Each time I have done this, I have been overwhelmed.
If you just think about the fact that I am alive, that is enough. I could stop right there and never be able to show all of my gratitude for that one thing.
The fact that I live in the United States, with all of its flaws and problems, is something I am so thankful for.
To sit here and write while looking out of the window is almost too much.
First, I can write. I had the education and learned to read and write. I have the freedom to write whatever I feel. I have a computer to write on. I have a desk at which to sit. I have a window to look out of, attached to a house in a lovely neighborhood and other people walk and drive by.
I have a cat sitting on the daybed next to my desk. I have a bed, that is for the daytime. Mostly for my cat. I have another bed in another room for sleeping on at night.
Just this one room, one of the smallest in my house, is full of miracles and wonders. I can listen to music at the touch of a button, I can see what is happening outside the window and on my computer I can see what is happening around the world.
If I go on to think of my husband in his office or my son at work at the radio station, I begin to get tears in my eyes. How grateful am I for them in my life?!
Then there is my kitchen, my closet, my attic, my carport. There are my friends, my students, my neighbors. The amazement just grows and grows, the gratitude is overwhelming and my thanks and praise can never be enough.
Why do I have all of this? I will never know. Why doesn’t everyone have so much? Again, I will never understand. Most of us have more than we take time to think about in a day. More than we can say thank you for.
All I can do is be grateful and try to do what I can to be worthy. That is ridiculous- I will never be worthy! So thankful it is!
Sometimes it is all just too much. Thanks be to God.
