Again Gratitude

On a three-year-old, long black piggytails and big brown eyes -- and dimples, lord help us, dimples! -- can hardly be improved upon, but the fact that her name is Lucy adds to the overall adorableness of this little personality. One Sunday class was over and Lucy was engrossed in play, her back to the door, when her mother came to pick her up: “Lucy! It’s time to go!”

From the sparks that ensued one would think her mom had threatened something dreadful - spinach for dinner, perhaps, or a trip to Siberia. Lucy whirled around, all lowered brows and pouting lips and flailing arms. “Again?!” she cried.

The audacity of her mother to take her away from a place that would soon be dark and empty, locked up tight! To force her to exchange this room with its dingy tile floors and flickering flourescent lights for the comfort and security of home! To insist on feeding her a nourishing meal, kissing her owies, tucking her in at night! Every week it’s the same -- the tyrant simply refuses to abandon her.

If I ever got to the end of the list of reasons to be grateful, which I won't, I’d have plenty of cause to start back at the beginning. I’ve been shown mercy again. I’ve been forgiven again. I’ve been provided for again. He puts the lonely in families again. His compassion is new every morning again.

He’s more than proven Himself. How is it that I’m still surprised when He shows up and remains true to His character all over again?

Gospel Gratitude

It's November, and in preparation for a holiday that begins with a prayer of thankfulness and ends with over-indulgence and football, I'll be posting regularly (daily?) about things I'm grateful for. Gratitude's a discipline to cultivate, not just a feeling. It's also a close cousin to humility, so when the fourth Thursday rolls around I ought to be the humblest person at the table.

Here's today's:

Therefore, since we have been justified by faith,
we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ.
Through him we have also obtained access by faith
into this grace in which we stand,
and we rejoice in hope of the glory of God...
For while we were still weak, at the right time Christ died for the ungodly.
For one will scarcely die for a righteous person—
though perhaps for a good person one would dare even to die—
but God shows his love for us in that while we were still sinners,
Christ died for us.

- Romans 5:1-2, 6-8

Any proper "Count My Blessings" list must begin with this mind-boggling truth - not that I loved God, but that He loved me.

Open Thank-you Note

Of all the good gifts that You give, today I'm most grateful for desire. Thanks for tugging my heart towards Yours.

Happiness is...

...mercy and mercy and mercy and grace.