Giving Thanks

I don’t know about y’all but giving thanks in the midst of a disaster or tragedy is hard, really hard.  You become so fixated on the moment that it is difficult to see through or beyond what is right in front of you.  Basically, you feel as if your feet have been knocked right out from under you.  We try to get back up and suddenly you’ve lost your balance again.   Try praying while your down and then maybe you can stand.  My mama had to have her house gutted and rebuilt twice because of flooding.  It was a long haul.  But, by the grace of God and two brothers with strong backs, we put it back together.  We give thanks for the ability to do that. 

I think of Job when tragedy strikes.  Job was a Godly man in a unique circumstance.  I don’t know if any other man has had to face or endure what Job did. I don’t want to find out if I can.  Job had faith and trusted God.  I pray that we each try to grow our faith in the face of tragedy and adversity and trust God to guide us through whatever life throws our way.   Find something to be thankful for.  Then, find something else.  Then, something more and keep going.  Give thanks with a grateful heart even when it’s difficult to even think. 

We met a young lady this past weekend who was working in a honey shop in Pigeon Forge. She had lost everything because of Hurricane Helene.  She was kind and cheerful and thankful that we had visited the store she was working in.  Could I do that?  Be Cheerful? She had to make hard decisions and was thankful for her job, and that she was there to tell her story.

            Thank you, Lord, for allowing me to write.  Thank you, Lord, for this reader.  Thank you, Lord, for another day.  Thank you, Lord, for family and friends.  Thank you, Lord, for my church.  Thank you, Lord, that there are people still called to go and do in a time of need.  Thank you, Lord, for allowing us the opportunity to collect things needed to survive and giving us the means to do it. Thank you, Lord, for plenty of all that I need. Thank you, Lord, for being here for me and saving me.  

Lord, we thank you for those who have gone out of their way to help collect, rescued, traveled to lend hands to those affected by Helene.  And now Lord, Milton has come and gone.  May we have the same compassions for those in Florida as we do our own North Carolinians.  I pray Lord, that you will give each a measure of your grace and mercy and that each giver and receiver will see your glory and come to know you, Lord, even more.  Amen