Every Thanksgiving I take a moment to pray my annual Thanksgiving prayer, where I enumerate my many blessings, usually in alphabetical order...Amanda, Butterflies, Choir, Danica, the Earth, Friends...
It was going fine until I got to J, for my Job.
Mentioning my job in my prayer got me thinking about work. And thinking about work got me worrying about work. (Something I do all the time now since my promotion in October. No, since I started training in for my new job in September.) And soon I had abandoned my prayer completely as my mind went over all the things I've got not only on, but spilling over, my figurative plate at work.
Several minutes passed before I remembered I was in the middle of a prayer. So I mentioned a few other things I'm thankful for (in random order this time) and laid there thinking about my many blessings, wishing my gratitude was more heartfelt.
But then a thought occured to me. Everything I just thanked God for was "of this world." I didn't mention one blessing that was "from above."
It was then that a passage I had memorized this past summer popped into my head:
"Since then you have been raised with Christ, set your hearts on things above, where Christ is seated on the right hand of God. Set your minds on things above, not on earthly things. For you died, and your life is now hidden with Christ, in God. When Christ, who is your life appears then you also will appear with him in glory." Col. 3:1-4
So I did. I set my mind on things above.
I thought of my God and how much He loves me. I thought about those wonderful moments when I've felt his undeniable pressence in my life. I thought back to Grandpa's funeral and what a huge comfort it was to know Grandpa was with the Lord. I thought of the day I would be with him too.
And a funny thing happened. My work anxieties, well they sort of lifted. All those things on my plate... I suddenly didn't care if a few of them slipped off. Instead of looking at my overloaded plate of earthly worries, I thought of my overflowing cup of spiritual blessings, and I felt truly grateful.
So today my goal is to celebrate Thanksgiving, not worrying about work, or the meal, or the sales, or anything this side of heaven, but to set my heart and mind on things above! May God help us all to do so, this day and every day. Amen and HAPPY THANKSGIVING!
Again - a wonderful blog, Linette. Pastor Lindemann had a wonderful theme in last night's sermon. To live a thanksgiving way instead of just having Thanksgiving Day. One of his challenges to us was to wake every morning and think of 5 things to be thankful for.
ReplyDeleteIt sounds like you are already on that path.
Have a wonderful day with your family and friends. Here's to living that Thanksgiving Way!!!
Our day was really great. We went to Dan and Mandie's new house in Mankato and Dan made an amazing turkey, gravy, squash and garlic potatoes that were all "restaurant quality." Add to that my son JJ's green bean casserole and it turned out to be one of the best Thanksgiving meals I have ever had! Yum Yum...
DeleteBut as to your comments, I think of things I'm thankful for all the time. How can one not when they are everywhere you turn! God has certainly filled our lives to overflowing with both earthly and heavenly blessings. So glad you have your heart set on things above too, old friend. Tell Matt Happy Thanksgiving from both of us. Looking forward to another fun and creative Christmas letter from the Weselohs!