Saturday, March 5 (Lent Week 0)

 


 

Giving Thanks

Thank you for the world so sweet,

Thank you for the bread we eat,

Thank you for the birds that sing

Thank you, God, for everything.

One of my earliest memories of my childhood was the grace we learned in Sunday School and tried out at home before the suppertime meal.  The prayer in poetry was simple and of course I memorized it as I certainly couldn’t read it, as I was only four or five years old.  It was printed on a card that was covered in cartoonish pictures of God’s blessings, bread, milk, dogs, flowers, deer, rainbow, birds and even a skunk.  The words allowed my mom and Dad to assist in case my memorization wasn’t up to speed.  This reflection from my memory was stirred as I read some of the readings for this first Saturday in Lent.

Lent is a time of reflection, penitence and in today’s reading (Philippians 4:10-20), the writer Paul, reflects on the gifts he received from others and of course God, and how he gave thanks for them.  This provided me with ample fodder for thoughts of the gifts I receive and to ponder what gifts I received from God and others, as to what to be thankful for.  I have already spoken of some of our basic needs such as food, animals, our senses and sleep, but it goes further than that. On Facebook someone reminded me to be thankful that I awoke this morning and the fact I was alive to enjoy the day. I praise God and thank the Lord, for other gifts I receive such as my memories of the people I have encountered. I also thank God for the ability to discern so much, like right from wrong, good from evil and love from hate. I so thank the Lord for the special gifts he has bestowed upon me, that being my family, including my parents, wife, brothers and sisters, children and grandchildren. All of whom have enhanced my life and made me what I am.  These are true gifts.

The Psalmist, also in today’s readings (Psalm 30) takes the thanksgiving up a notch as he says:

I will exalt you, O Lord, / for you lifted me out of the depths / and did not let my enemies gloat over me.

O Lord my God, I called to you for help / and you healed me.

Truly, we each have many gifts, received and given. No matter what our situation is, what day or time or how you feel, it is time to praise, thank the true provider of the gift.  Maybe the poet was when she said, ‘Thank you, God, for everything.’

 

- Michael Larsen

 

Thank You Lord - Don Moen


 

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