This is a question that always seems to work at our Thanksgiving table for going around. Even unbelievers can come up with an answer — and more mature believers might mention things the Lord has taught them, as well as new gifts from Him. Let’s try it here.
A gift God has given me is my new grand-daughter Tiki (Teaghan) and seeing the great affection her siblings have for her (here with my eldest grandchild Emily.) Oh the beauty and innocence of babies!
A truth God is teaching me is to want Him instead of always just wanting His gifts — and I’m absolutely craving intimacy with Him and sporadically experiencing it. Kisses when I meditate on the Scripture; unusual circumstances that show me He cares. This week I had a mouse get in the house and I have a phobia about mice. He got into my pantry and I was screaming as I pulled things out of the floor of my pantry and saw him running around. All that was left was a Coke carton so I threw a mousetrap in, slammed the door, and prayed it would be quick. Then I flung open the door, threw a towel over the trap, and threw it in the garage for my son to get later. When I opened the pantry, he was still alive — peering out of my coke carton. I cried, “God — how is this taking care of me?” I threw the towel over the carton and ran shrieking outside. He leaped out. At least he was outside, but I knew if he got in once, he could again. I sat on my couch and cried. (I know — it’s pathetic.) I said, “Lord — You promised to be my husband and take care of me and You know how I hate mice. How is this taking care of me?” (A lament of sorts.) At that moment I saw a movement on my porch and nervously peered out the window to see a neighbor’s cat sitting there, poised, guarding. He stayed all night. I realized he was a gift from God — to take care of the mice.
I keep thinking of that cat — and of the love of God — and for His patience for me. I think about Him saying, “If I care for the lilies of the field, I’ll care for you, Dee.” He does love me. He lets me experience pain to refine my character, but He does also love and want to protect me even more than I love and want to protect little Tiki.
What are you thankful for this Thanksgiving that you could not have been thankful for last Thanksgiving?
7 comments
I love that story and how the Lord provided the cat. Do you think that sometimes God chuckles at our dilemmas? The Lord is teaching me in a couple of different areas. One is fear. I can easily be overcome with fear and sadness over the state of affairs in our country. The other is purity. Yesterday in my early morning quiet time, the Lord gave me James 1:27, Hebrews 10:22 and then Ezekiel 36:18-end. Although, Ez. is referring to the future restoration of Israel, beautiful application is for us. I am reminded often that in my flesh dwells no good thing, but I am thankful that He continues to teach and purify and draw me to Himself. I am thankful that He has given me a desire for Him, to know Him better, and serve Him more. I am not always faithful, but He is. Also in the physical, my very close friend had a heart attack but was at the hospital visiting someone at the time so medical attention was very quick. God bless you, Dee, and have a happy Thanksgiving.
I’m sure He chuckles at us, Deidra, the way I chuckle at Tiki. And loves us that way too.
Thanks for sharing both what He is teaching you and how He met your friend.
Dee,
God has shown me through the preaching at our church that Jesus was not my first love. He has shown me that my husband was. That fact helped explain why I lived in constant fear that he would be taken away from me. I never thought that anyone could have as good a relationship as my husband and I have, so of course, no one would suffer as much as me should something happen to him. (It was all about me) Realizing that I had to return to my first love (Jesus) was not that easy as the fear remained until I had the privilege of meeting you and reading your book “God of All Comfort”. Your example showed me that should I lose my husband, I will survive, as will my love for the Lord. Will it be easy? Absolutely not! Will I have to lean on the Lord more than ever? Most definitely! I have released my hold on my husband and can now run back to Jesus without fear. Having my priorities in order has brought me back into fellowship with my Lord and for that I am so very thankful.
Hi Barb —
Thanks so much for writing and sharing. I just listened online to your pastor Joe Coffey on The Gospel and The Bible and love that he gets it. He’s so humble — he said I used to teach the Old Testament so differently, but now I know it is all about Jesus. Every story whispers His name.
Thanks for writing.
I just have to let you know how God continues to let me know that He is a part of everything in my life. My friend Denise (who you signed a book for) found out that Amy Shreve had a concert near her mother who lives in Florida. She had her mother get a CD for me and had Amy sign it. The concert was a few days before my blog. Amy wrote, “May Jesus always be your first love.” He never ceases to amaze me. Blessings to you this Thanksgiving.
Thanks for your stories. Hope to hear more. My dear friend Jean from Nebraska just spent a day with me in Kansas City and she told me she has written down what her family is thankful for each Thanksgiving and then they read it at future Thanksgivings. I’m going to start that tradition tomorrow.
How about you?
There’s a new cry for help under the post about red flags of an unhealthy friendship — if any of you wise believers would like to help! Thanks so much.