Yesterday’s post kept getting pushed further into the day until the hours expired. Sometimes it’s like that. Thank goodness for a new day with its opportunity to do a little better than the day before.
That said, I am late starting. Try as I might to spread tasks evenly over the week, somehow stuff stacks up anyway, and before I know it, morning has bid adieu and afternoon is close on its heels. I’m filled with praise and thanksgiving today. If you read the headlines in the morning paper blaring that as the state continues to reopen, the number of Covid-19 infections continue to rise, you might wonder why. Added to that dismal news is the reporting regarding the unprovoked killing of a 25 year old Black jogger back in February in the small town of Brunswick by two white men he passed as he jogged. Neither has been convicted and a grand jury was only recently formed when a video of the shooting was released to the public. Neither of these breaking news events would seem to point toward praising and offering thanks.
What I continue to discover on this journey home to the Savior is that irrespective of our personal or communal circumstances, there is always a reason (or reasons) to praise God and say, “Thank you, Lord.” Earlier during my virtual visit with my son at the long-term facility in which he resides, the nursing director appeared in the frame and shared the results of last week’s residents and staff COVID-19 testing: none of them tested positive. It was a Alleluia moment. My prayers lifted daily regarding the well-being of the nursing home community were answered with a resounding, YES. Later in the afternoon, my niece called with an update regarding my sister who has been in the hospital for eight days and counting. She developed a blood clot and instead of waiting to see if it could be treated with anticoagulants, the doctors installed a stint to address the problem immediately. She continues her recovery. Again, daily prayers for her healing and recovery were answered in the affirmative.
Those are just two personal examples, but they serve the purpose of my point today. In the season we’re in, it would be easy to dwell only upon the negatives. There are so many of them! If we measured the negatives confronting humanity at the moment, they might give the positives a run for the money. Or so it seems. But if we pause, take a deep breathe, and turn our focus toward Jesus and the daily blessings, mercies and grace He bestows, we will find Alleluia moments sprinkled throughout each day. Just the fact that we woke up and are in this moment alive is reason to say, “Thank you, Jesus.” And if in His grace He has added to that reality an answer to your prayer requests, that’s even more reason to praise Him. A change of perspective from one of fear or anxiety or even defeatism to one that claims the peace God gives helps you see with spiritual eyes the perks of being a believer. And when a perk is perceived it’s time to say, “Hallelujah.”
Love. Joy. Peace.
Rejoice! Again I say rejoice!!!
Thanks for the reminder to praise God and for the updates