A Thanksgiving Prayer

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!

"M" is for My Mid-Life Crisis

Ever since I can remember I’ve had a little ritual I do either the night before Thanksgiving, or the morning of. I lay in bed and thank God for my blessings in alphabetical order; one blessing for each letter of the alphabet. It’s a lot harder and more fun than it sounds. For example, I usually put my kids in the prayer by their first names: A for Amanda, D for Danica, J for Jonathan, and Z for Zack. But then “J” is taken and I still have Jeff to be thankful for. I can move Jeff to “H” for husband, but now I can’t use the “H” for house or home. Maybe I’ll call it shelter, and use it for “S.” See, it’s kind of like a puzzle.

People my age are often encouraged to keep their brains sharp with mental exercises like this. And I’m beginning to realize why. As much as I hate to admit it, my brain isn’t as sharp as it used to be. Back in the day, I could learn new stuff fairly easily. I wasn’t a “straight -A” student, but that’s mostly because I never really tried too hard. I’d go to class, pay attention, and usually get a decent score on the test. The few times I remember actually studying for a test I ended up getting the highest grade in the class, but that only happened a couple of times. I guess I was lazy. But I always knew I had potential. People told me that all the time. “You have a lot of potential.” I’m sure they said it to encourage me, but after hearing it several times I only found it puzzling. Potential to do what, I’d wonder. I still wonder about it.

I used to think I might go back to school one day. I always liked school. I didn’t like studying much, but I really enjoyed school. As a high school graduate I went to 2 years of college, got my AA degree, and then dropped everything to go after my MRS degree. I’ll never forget telling my mom I was quitting school to get married. I could just see it in her face, “But you have so much potential.” So I’ve been told.

I know I’m making this sound like I’m frustrated and unfulfilled, but I really don’t feel that way much anymore. Only occasionally. But there was a time, not too long ago, when those feelings were so strong they sucked all the joy out of me, and left me wondering where I’d gone wrong.

It all started on May 24th, 2008. I had a terrible day at work, and suddenly and unexpectedly realized I did not like my job. I thought about where I was and what I was doing, and it seemed I was going nowhere. I looked at my life and thought, “This is it? You gotta be kidding me.” I thought about all of the things I hoped I would be one day, and realized they were only childish dreams. I was a nobody and would be a nobody the rest of my life.

That was a tough year for me. I look back at it now and realize it was what they call a mid-life crisis.

I did a lot of thinking that year. I thought about where I was, where I wanted to be, and the reality of my situation. Where I was: manager of a thrift store. Where I wanted to be: a novelist, a motivational speaker, or an expert on…anything! Reality: I would probably never be any of those things.
Potential or not, if God wanted me to be somebody important, it would have happened by now. So, why wouldn’t God let me be all those things? Why was I destined to be a frustrated housewife and nothing more? To answer that, I went to my Bible.

Once again I read that God, the creator and sustainer of all things, is love. I read how he loved me so much that he gave his one and only son up to die for me. That kind of loving gift is so huge, so awesome, I can only grasp it through faith (also a gift from him).

I was also reminded that I can at any time cast all my anxieties on Him, because he cares for me, and that if I trust in the Lord with all my heart, and lean not on my own understanding, he will make my paths straight.

Eventually I came to understand and believe, I was where I was because that’s where God wanted me to be. He knew me better than I knew myself, and he is and always will be in control of my life. I took a lot of comfort in that. I still wanted to quit my job, and I still hoped to be “somebody” one day, but I was willing to trust in God to either make it happen or not. “Father Knows Best” became my new motto.

By the spring of 2009 I was feeling lots better. I made myself a little Gratitude Journal, and filled it with only the things that gave me joy. When I browsed through the pages of that little book I knew my life was about more than just where I worked. I had my kids, my husband, my home, my hobbies, my passions, my faith. In many ways my life far exceeded my childhood dreams. I had, and have, lots to be thankful for.

Which brings me back to where I began… my prayer for Thanksgiving 2010:

Lord, thank you for Amanda, my Blog, Clothing, Danica, Eternal Life, Friends, Groceries, my Husband, my In-laws, Jonathan, Kyle, Lepidoptera (butterflies), Music, Nature, Outings, my Parents, Quist (Dan), Recreation, Shelter, Transportation, the USA, Vacations, Work, eXercise, our Yard, and Zack. Amen.

And now, the rest of the story…

In July of 2009 I saw an ad for the job here at the bookstore. I applied, and by God’s grace I was offered the job. I can’t tell you how happy it made me. It wasn’t just the new job. It was proof that God loved me and cared about me enough to answer my prayer. I’ve been here for over a year now and I’m still grateful every day that God led my path here. I know I’m where I’m supposed to be, and that’s a GREAT feeling.


NOTE: There’s something else I realized during that year of introspection and self-analysis. I only add it here as a footnote because, number one, it sort of contradicts what I’ve written above, and two, I don’t really understand all the complexities of divine intervention/free-will. But looking back at the choices I’ve made through the years it’s also clear I’m where I am today in large part because of the decisions I’ve made up to now.

It was my choice to stay home with my kids, rather than work outside the home. And I was the one who decided to quit college and marry Jeff. In high school, it was my choice to watch reruns of Little House on the Prairie when I could have and probably should have been studying. So if it’s true that I’ve not lived up to my potential, it’s really my own fault in many ways.

Still, when I look back at those choices, I don’t really regret any of them. Given the opportunity to do it all over, I’m quite certain I’d end up just where I am today. And I’m okay with that too. Sure, I dreamed of being a “somebody” one day. But to God, I know I am, and that’s really what’s most important.

Happy Thanksgiving, everyone. You’re all Somebodies too!

Encouraging Encouragement

“Nette, come help me.” Somehow my sister Becky had ended up with the job of carving the Thanksgiving turkey. She was maybe 20 years old at the time, and had little experience in this sort of thing. I was no more than 13 and had none whatsoever. Still, I followed her into the next room, ready to do what I could.

Becky took the electric knife in one hand, and a fork in the other.

“What should I do?” I asked when she just stood there staring down at the bird.

“Just give me encouragement.”

I smiled. That I could do.

So while my older sister bravely went to work, I did my part. “Come on, you can do it.” “Nice job!” “Keep it up.” “Ooo, that’s a nice one…”

Perhaps you’re wondering why I’m telling you this story.

Well, you know how some moments stick out in your memory. I don’t mean the major events in one’s life. I mean the simple little moments that you never forget. This is one of mine. I loved it that all she wanted from me were a few words of encouragement. I still smile when I think about it. I was just a kid. But still, she needed and appreciated having me stand by her side and tell her she was doing okay.

There’s another reason I’m telling you this story. September 12^th is the National Day of Encouragement. I know this because I happen to work at the MLC Bookstore, and from September 7 – 10 we’ll be giving away 1 free card of encouragement with every DaySpring™ Greeting card purchase in celebration of the National Day of Encouragement, while supplies last.

(Did that sound like a commercial? Sorry. Now back to our blog, already in progress.)

Grandpa Glende was an expert at encouragement. He once told my brother-in-law, Chip, he plays football so well he should play for the Vikings. And several times when I would take him to run errands around town he told me what an excellent driver I was. Honestly, he did. He even said I should get a job as a taxi driver. Obviously, Grandpa’s encouragement was a bit exaggerated at times, but I have to say, I never drove so well as when I had him sitting next to me, singing my praises.

And so I encourage you to be encouraging. And not just on September 12^th. Make it a regular part of your conversation. It was that way with Grandpa. And I know my sister Becky would agree, it could and should be that way with all of us.

Come on, you can do it. Nice job!