thanksgiving
O My God,You fairest, greatest, first of all objects, My heart admires, adores, loves You, For my little vessel is as full as it can be, And I would pour out all that fullness before You in ceaseless flow. When I think upon and converse with You Ten thousand delightful thoughts spring up, Ten thousand sources of pleasure are unsealed, Ten thousand refreshing joys spread over my heart, Crowding into every moment of happiness. I bless You for the soul You have created, For adorning it, for sanctifying it, Though it is fixed in barren soil; For the body You have given me, For preserving its strength and vigor, For providing senses to enjoy delights, For the ease and freedom of limbs, For hands, eyes, ears that do Your bidding; For Your royal bounty providing my daily support, For a full table and overflowing cup, For appetite, taste, sweetness, For social joys of relatives and friends, For ability to serve others, For a heart that feels sorrows and necessities, For a mind to care for my fellow-men, For opportunities of spreading happiness around, For loved ones in the joys of heaven, For my own expectation of seeing You clearly. I love You above the powers of language to express, For what You are to Your creatures. Increase my love, O my God, through time and eternity.
Give thanks to the Lord, call upon His name, make known His deeds among the peoples, proclaim that His name is exalted.
Isaiah 12:3b
during this year's season of thanks, i have been trying to let my heart be guided by that verse.
taking time to remember the experiences of the past year, paying attention to what God’s providence has brought into my life. going month by month, and watching as God's narrative unfolds.
taking special note of the watershed moments and the smaller formative times where emotional memory is stored.
taking time to trace these remembrances to the purposes of God. everything—the remarkable and mundane—has meaning. everything—the joyous and the difficult—has purpose.
and taking time to share God's goodness with others. sharing experiences. sharing lessons learned. seeing the Lord's provision and mighty hand moving, ordaining, shifting, arranging.
give thanks to the Lord, for He is good.
and in that spirit...a walk down memory lane.