All that praise comes pretty easy when your items for giving thanks are like the list in Part I. But search my heart, can I really sing out my refrain if it goes more like the one below (which also speaks of my life circumstance)? If I had the soul and strength of Job, I could. Try your own woeful version and ask yourself if you could do it. It's an interesting and challenging spiritual exercise.My body is getting older and ever more creaky.
"Oh give Thanks to the Lord, for He is good."
Two of our friends are struggling with advanced cancer.
"Oh give Thanks to the Lord, for He is good."
My family is separated by large distances, and I'm lonely for them.
"Oh give Thanks to the Lord, for He is good."
Not all my family shares my beliefs, and sometimes that makes me sad.
"Oh give Thanks to the Lord, for He is good."
We must make some painful personnel cuts at work.
"Oh give Thanks to the Lord, for He is good."
My retirement fund has lost at least half its value.
"Oh give Thanks to the Lord, for He is good."
I may have no one to look after me when I am old.
"Oh give Thanks to the Lord, for He is good."
My work is never done.
"Oh give Thanks to the Lord, for He is good."
I sometimes feel place-bound.
"Oh give Thanks to the Lord, for He is good."
My feet hurt every day.
"Oh give Thanks to the Lord, for He is good."
For 20 years I've asked to be healed of something, and haven't been.
"Oh give Thanks to the Lord, for He is good."
There are not enough hours in a day, nor years in a life.
"Oh give Thanks to the Lord, for He is good."
"Oh give Thanks to the Lord, for He is good."
Two of our friends are struggling with advanced cancer.
"Oh give Thanks to the Lord, for He is good."
My family is separated by large distances, and I'm lonely for them.
"Oh give Thanks to the Lord, for He is good."
Not all my family shares my beliefs, and sometimes that makes me sad.
"Oh give Thanks to the Lord, for He is good."
We must make some painful personnel cuts at work.
"Oh give Thanks to the Lord, for He is good."
My retirement fund has lost at least half its value.
"Oh give Thanks to the Lord, for He is good."
I may have no one to look after me when I am old.
"Oh give Thanks to the Lord, for He is good."
My work is never done.
"Oh give Thanks to the Lord, for He is good."
I sometimes feel place-bound.
"Oh give Thanks to the Lord, for He is good."
My feet hurt every day.
"Oh give Thanks to the Lord, for He is good."
For 20 years I've asked to be healed of something, and haven't been.
"Oh give Thanks to the Lord, for He is good."
There are not enough hours in a day, nor years in a life.
"Oh give Thanks to the Lord, for He is good."
Thanks Ginger, I needed this today.
ReplyDeleteYour "give thanks" exercises are so helpful! I know how important it is to thank God in all circumstances, but sometimes I still forget.
ReplyDeleteAnd I've asked God to heal me of something for over 20 years as well... You're right, we give thanks in the midst of both joy and woe.
Ah--Ginger--most interesting to do the Give Thanks refrain when we are listing our woes. It helps put things into perspective, does it no?
ReplyDeleteThis really, really worked for me today.
ReplyDeleteThank you.
By the way, my word verification is 'grickfu', which - to me - seems like some bizarre form of 'grateful'.
Wow. You're right, I never would have thought to do that, but it's definitely a spiritual experience! I even found it difficult to read your phrases. They didn't seem to make sense. But as I went through I wondered what mine would be. So I think I'll make my own list.
ReplyDeleteAlso, that food looks AMAZING. Mrs. President sure can play hostess, can she not?!?