Today, I Will Be #Thankful

Yesterday, we hiked as a family. My husband and I hiked a lot when we first met and married, and now, after years of training, our boys are old enough to hike almost anything. One of my sons has a hurting heel, so we decided we needed to hike something that didn’t involve too much climbing. We decided on a trail we haven’t hiked in years. It was not only beautiful and peaceful but provided that familiar aroma of unadulterated fresh air mixed with the fragrance of pine. When everyone was hungry for lunch, we decided to walk a little further only to realize that the photo my husband and I consider our “engagement” photo-taken by our 12 year-old niece-was taken on that very hike 17 years ago. It was a great day.

Unfortunately,this past week I have been anything but content.  Being out of “work” for the past 6 months, without a schedule and daily interaction with my students and colleagues, coupled by limited vacation options, mask fatigue, and frustration with what I will call “the state of things” in general has caused a general sense of “unrest” in my soul.  So, today, as I perused the many verses about thankfulness, I realized something.  These verses, many of which I have known for years, do not have the “If . . . then” option.  For example, when Psalms 7:17 states, “I will give thanks to the Lord because of his righteousness” and Psalm 100:4-5 states, “Enter his gates with thanksgiving and his courts with praise . . . For the Lord is good and his love endures forever”, nothing is provisional.  David’s thankfulness does not hinge on how free he feels, if his life has been disrupted or the lack of unrest in his country.  It is based on the character of God alone.  In fact, much of the Bible is wrought with oppression, unrest, even slavery and imprisonment.  Nevertheless, thankfulness is not an option.

So, today I am thankful

Thankful for my family

Immediate and extended

For their health and support

For the extra time I’ve had with them

For my pastors

Who are shepherding their flock

Through such uncertain times

For my church family

And the ability to worship WITH them

When some are forbidden (even in the U.S.)

Even when singing in a mask is less than ideal

For less scheduled activities

(Though I hate to give them up)

And more time to chat

or take a walk with someone

For smaller, less stressful vacations

Hikes, day drives through Yellowstone Park

The opportunity to appreciate

The beauty that is close to home

For my job

That I have one and that it allows me

To do what I love the most

In whatever form I can

For personal safety

And the police that put their lives on the line

To ensure that

And School Resource Officers

Who make my community and its schools a safer place

For access to healthcare and those who make that possible

And mostly for God

Not only for his salvation and provision

But for his presence and character

On whom I can rest daily despite what comes

Today, I will be thankful