Monday, November 21, 2011

Thanksgiving Thanksgiving (Thanksgiving Squared?)

A grateful spirit should ever be cultivated by the Christian; and especially after deliverances we should prepare a song for our God. Earth should be a temple filled with the songs of grateful saints, and every day should be a censor smoking with the sweet incense of thanksgiving (Spurgeon, Morning and Evening, Morning, November 20).
Whether you are celebrating American Thanksgiving this week or not, may God grant you a heart full of song and weeks full of that "sweet incense of thanksgiving."

(If you are not feeling particularly grateful right now, this post on Ecclesiastes and Thanksgiving might interest you.)

God has "blessed us with every spiritual blessing in the heavens in Christ," but He has also given so many gifts in the here and now. This week I'm returning thanks to Him for the following and more:
~a grateful heart
~implant finished at last and mouth adjusting well
~oral ulcers responded very quickly to treatment and weren't caused by lupus
~unexpected grace
~half-inch rain (twice!)
~mourning with mourners
~challenging words calling to growth
~husband enjoying new friendships
~first batch of cranberry sauce
~my grandmother's quilt
Ebony apparently likes it too.
~peppermint Oreos
~earworms, when they're pleasant ones
~kind inquiries and prayers
~mud-happy, cat-chasing canine "fun" outside
~hot tea on a chilly day
~prayer updates, some hard eucharisteos
~enjoying new BookSneeze review book
~husband's counsel to troubled sister
~sad trials made harder for friends, trust
~dissatisfaction making ready for growth
~laughing together over an old Cosby Show episode
~Christmas presents for my little Longhorn nephews
No spoilers here. They don't even know what a blog is. :)
~"Pioneer Spirit" rose still budding with beauty

~an amazing answer to prayer for a cancer patient's release from the hospital for Thanksgiving
~two meals' worth of husband-grilled chicken
~quiet weekend with no overtime for him
~celebrating a friend's good news
~you lovely crumbles!
(gratitude journal, #2216-2243)

{If this proves my only post for the week or I seem quiet in the comments, please don't worry. I'm trying to behave myself and rest before family time Thursday.}


Linking to dear Ann at Holy Experience:


9 comments:

  1. I love how many gifts you have and amazed at how high you have counted. I, too, am struggling from chronic pain issues. This has been going on in increasing measure for almost 3 years -- possibly fibromyalgia, but only because my doc couldn't seem to find the "solution." I have taken a "doctor" break for the past year for a number of reasons, number one being us moving from South Africa a year ago. You are a blessing in our you look at your life in the midst of this chronic diagnosis. So glad to connect with you here....although I think I may have passed through before.

    ReplyDelete
  2. I love your thanksgiving list, but the picture of your dog, Ebony is a riot! Have a Blessed Thanksgiving, and may your song be the "sweet incense of thanksgiving." I'm a new follower on GFC and would love for you to follow me too.

    ReplyDelete
  3. Love the picture of Ebony. {smile}

    So many good thanks. So much grace.

    I pray you have a full Thanksgiving! I'm thankful for the blessing you are to me.

    ReplyDelete
  4. Lots of good here. I always smile a lot when reading your lists:) I understand on being quiet. . . so much to do preparing for Thanksgiving and enjoying family time. Still, I'll be lifting you up in prayer.

    ReplyDelete
  5. May your rest give you lots of energy to enjoy time with your family this week! This is such a lovely list, dear one! I am thankful for YOU! :)

    ReplyDelete
  6. Enjoyed reading your list. I too feel the need to remain a bit quiet this week :) And I have begun to look forward to my hot chocolate on the cooler evenings as you like your tea. Happy Thanksgiving!

    ReplyDelete
  7. Girl. Not to be disgusting, but I had an oral ulcer or some such, recently, and ohmygoodness: it. hurt. so. badly. It was tucked in the crease of my bottom lip, near my chin, just to the right. I didn't think it would ever go away, but then it did. Whew. Definitely a reason for thanks. What causes such things? I mean, I didn't bite there!

    ReplyDelete
  8. I'm sorry you had that to deal with on top of all the rest of the excitement at your house lately. The dentist said these were a symptom of a systemic virus, but apparently one not too contagious since A. was fine. (Glad you only had one. Mine were numerous and widespread, but the nasty rinse was worth it for the healing.)

    ReplyDelete
  9. Enjoy that hot chocolate! Grace to you, friend.

    ReplyDelete

Thank you for sharing your day with me! Your presence here is a gift. *You* are a gift. Right now I am unable to reply to every comment, but please know I read and pray for each and every commenter. Grace and peace to you in Christ.