“This is what I have observed to be good: that it is appropriate for a person to eat, to drink and to find satisfaction in their toilsome labor under the sun during the few days of life God has given them; for this is their lot. Moreover, when God gives someone wealth and possessions, and the ability to enjoy them, to accept their lot and be happy in their toil; this is a gift of God. They seldom reflect on the days of their life, because God keeps them occupied with gladness of heart.” Ecclesiastes 5:18-20
If you have an opportunity at the end of your day when you empty your pocket and find six quarters with a small pile of denim threads, think of the attached photo and give thanks. Your buck and a half of change can bring a day’s worth of rice and beans for these six kids at the Lutheran school in Cap Haitian. These six have little, in our eyes, to be thankful for but we have more than they can possibly imagine and too often we forget to give thanks; for having a buck and a half. I read the follow poem yesterday that was written by an unknown soul and want to share it with you today. “I asked God for strength, that I might achieve; I was made weak, that I might learn to humbly obey. I asked for health, that I might do greater things; I was given infirmity, that I might do better things. I asked for riches, that I might be happy; I was given poverty, that I might be wise. I asked for power, that I might have the praise of men; I was given weakness, that I might feel the need of God. I asked for all things, that I might enjoy life; I was given life, that I might enjoy all things. I got nothing that I asked for, but everything I had hoped for. I am, among all men, most richly blessed.” I am closing today with the words from the hymn ‘Now thank we all our God’ that were written by Martin Rinckart in 1636.
“Now thank we all our God with heart and hands and voices, Who wondrous things hath done, in whom His world rejoices; Who from our mother's arms hath blessed us on our way with countless gifts of love, and still is ours today. Oh, may this bounteous God through all our life be near us, with ever joyful hearts and blessed peace to cheer us; and keep us in His grace and guide us when perplexed and free us from all ills in this world and the next. All praise and thanks to God the Father now be given, the Son, and Him who reigns with them in highest heaven: the one eternal God, Whom earth and heaven adore! For thus it was, is now, and shall be evermore.”
Dear Heavenly Father, you have called your servants to ventures of which we cannot see the ending, by paths as yet untrodden, through perils unknown. Give us faith to go out with good courage, not knowing where we go but only that your hand is leading us and your love supporting us through Jesus Christ our Lord and Savior. Amen.
May God be with you…Jay