I spent most of my Thanksgiving Day by my wife’s hospital bed. She had an unexpected surgery the day before. The normal reaction is to say that’s not the way to spend Thanksgiving, and I would agree. Yet even in the midst of a trial, we should never lose sight of the many ways God has revealed His love and mercy throughout our lives.
How does one measure the value of God’s forgiveness? What price tag can you put on that? I once was lost, and now, no matter what the circumstance and no matter what the result in this world, I am still found by Him and will have a place with Him throughout eternity. When we are in pain, whether physical or emotional, that fact remains unchanged. The hard part, of course, is keeping our focus and recognizing His everlasting love even when we are tempted to doubt Him. The temptation is not a sin. He works with us to overcome it.
Even our Thanksgiving Day had bright spots: the surgery was not of the life-or-death kind; we had friends stop by, and our son, daughter-in-law, and our adorable [yes, I know that word can be overused, but it’s true nonetheless] granddaughter were there to bring a dinner to my wife when she couldn’t be with us at home. We also have the prayers of a multitude. God hears all those who pray sincerely, and His responses are always the righteous ones.
We can put our entire trust in His character.
So I will.
Hope you all had a special Thanksgiving, but keep in mind that true thanksgiving is a lifestyle, not a one-day-a-year activity.
We always want God’s blessing, but may He be blessed by the attitude of our hearts.
