How do mere mortals, like me and you, thank the Lord sufficiently for all that has been bestowed to us and to our loved ones?
Thanksgiving has always been my favorite holiday. As a little girl, I’d wake up to the mouth-watering aroma of my mom preparing pumpkin pies, turkey and stuffing. I felt intuitively grateful for our boisterous family of seven. As I nestled in front of our huge console tv to watch the New York Thanksgiving Day Parade, I thought, “What about that huge Snoopy balloon?” And, “How can I audition for The Rocketeers?”
Many decades later, I still love Thanksgiving. I am exceedingly in awe of the goodness of God. He has blessed me through multiple seasons of life from my childhood, being a young mom and wife raising my sons, squeezing in college, church and community involvement, starting over after divorce heartache, a new challenging career, precious grandchildren, incredible family and loving friends. Unexpectedly, i had the delightful surprise of middle-aged new love and retirement adventures. Additionally, now a fabulous church family. My journey has been in technicolor even with the desert wilderness treks. I cherish what I learned through my journey and the intimacy that grew between me and Jesus.
Often, the only words that my human vocabulary can express is “Thank you, Abba Father!,” and “Thank you Jehovah Jireh!” and “Thank you for Your unmerited Grace, Mercy and Goodness.”
My favorite place of worship is in God’s creation. I marvel at the fragrance, the gentle whispers of the breeze and the raw beauty of nature. I’m captivated by the perfect artistry of the Appalachians, the Alaskan ice bergs, the Sierra Nevadas, the Grand Canyon, the rhythm of the oceans, the flow of rivers and the foliage of autumn. When words fail me in these places, my thanksgiving comes with a deep breath and outstretched arms.
Where is your unique place of worship? Find time this month to go to that location and have a gratitude party with God. No words necessary. God sees our hearts and delights in our Thanksgiving.
May your heart sing out “Barukh Hashem,” the
Jewish way to say, “Thank You, God.” It is a way to express appreciation for all that we have and who we are in Christ.
Psalm 150:1-6: “Praise the Lord! Praise God in his sanctuary; praise him in his mighty heavens! Praise him for his mighty deeds; praise him according to his excellent greatness!”.
-Teri Van Klaveren
