Sacrifice of Thanksgiving

LORD, through these years of being a widow, one of the hard lessons I have learned is what it means to bring YOU the sacrifice of thanksgiving.

Sacrifice indicates giving something up that is precious, something held close.

My mind, and my heart, know that there is always something to be thankful for – no matter what.

And I hear that song by Kutless, “Even If . . . “ a thousand times a day.

YOU are still GOD.

YOU are still good.

Even if . . .

BUT GOD . . . I guess in every one’s life there are times when it’s hard to say “thank YOU”.

I know there were those times when Rick was alive that we struggled with offering thanksgiving to YOU.

When it seemed the rug was pulled out from under us.

Or the walls were caving in on top of us.

And yet, there’s been nothing even close to the struggle of being a widow and offering YOU those sacrifices of thanksgiving.

Being a widow has made me see clearer, and farther – even while knowing darkness.

It’s easier now to take nothing for granted.

The rising, and setting, of the sun.

The wind that blows the trees and grasses.

The flowers that bloom.

The birds that sing.

A good cup of coffee.

A refreshing cold drink.

Tasty food.

Sweet fellowship with others.

It's almost as though I am trying to soak it all in - for Rick, and for me. 

I remember that day when Rick and I were struggling so greatly in every area of our lives and there seemed to be so much that we didn’t have, that we couldn’t do.

Just as we crossed the overpass there in Brinker, going towards town, right before we got on the interstate – we looked at each other with almost the same words. “If we are going to count what we don’t have – then we must count everything we don’t have!”

• We don’t have a child or grandchild in the hospital fighting for their life. Or in the morgue waiting for arrangements to be made.
• We don’t have our own selves in the hospital, or in a grave.
• We don’t have empty cabinets, or frig
• We don’t have completely empty pockets
• We don’t have an empty fuel tank
• We don’t have . . .

Granted, many of those things we didn’t have that day have changed for me.

But still – there is much that I don’t have today, too 😉

It’s so easy to look for what is wrong and refuse to enjoy life until all of it is “fixed”.

LORD, open my eyes and my ears to see what I do have.

LORD, open my heart to give YOU that sacrifice of thanksgiving.

: Psalm 116:17 – I will offer to You the sacrifice of thanksgiving and call on the Name of the Lord.

• Even if . . . YOU are still GOD, YOU are still good. Even though I keep praying for none of those “even-if” moments 😉

: Genesis 3:1-5 – Now the serpent was more crafty than any other beast of the field that the Lord God had made. He said to the woman, “Did God actually say, “You shall not eat of any tree in the garden?” And the woman said to the serpent, “We may eat of the fruit of the trees in the garden, but God said, “You shall not eat of the fruit of the tree that is in the midst of the garden, neither shall you touch it, lest you die.” But the serpent said to the woman, “You will not surely die. For God knows that when you eat of it your eyes will be opened, and you will be like God, knowing good and evil.”

• Just enough truth in what the serpent said. LORD, help me hear YOUR Voice above all. Trust and obey YOU . . .
• Much like this life now - just enough truth in what others say, but not "the Truth". LORD, help me to know the difference. 

: I John 1:7 – But if we walk in the Light, as He is in the Light, we have fellowship with one another, and the Blood of Jesus His Son cleanses us from all sin.

• LORD, help me choose the Light, always.