Pray and think.
I write, examine, see.
I ask the Lord to open eyes,
"Pave the way to Thee?"
Thanksgiving, He asks of me. "Even for the hard?" My feeble heart protests, then relents as I conclude, yes, even for the hard. I'm sure, especially for the hard. The gouge which tore open my quest to finding Him, I wasn't ready for it, or so I thought. But, He knew all the more.
And what of this thanksgiving? What's the mystery? To count it all JOY?! when my heart hurts and memories bite and surely the fears are justified. No. Surely, they are not...because Jesus has modeled for me thanksgiving, even for (especially for) the cup that He would drink. He has shown the better way...to give thanks and honor and glory and power back to the One it belongs.
He deems best. We submit. We follow. Pour all. Empty all. Receive ALL...with THANKSGIVING. He asks this of me.
The mug spills out as I write and think and ponder, pray. And, so be it. No metaphor could play out better. All spilled out across the table, through cracks, to floor and yet, THANKSGIVING...anyway. It spills out too from deep within this weathered heart of mine. "Whatever! Have it all your way, Lord! I'm in. The memories don't have to be erased," I decide. Rather, "Use them!" I cry. "For your glory and your perfect will, use them, Lord. I'm yours...thankfully yours." Anything else ends in defeat, victory for the foe, the opposite of salvation.
Whatever He gives, it is best. THANKSGIVING. Whatever He deems, ACCEPTANCE, but more than that, praise! So, use it, use it all, I ask and pray and surrender and give back and offer thankful acceptance overflowing with JOY at the thought of having been chosen to suffer for the greater good of thanksgiving.
"The one who offers thanksgiving as his sacrifice glorifies me." Psalm 50:23
