Hang Right Politics

Posted by Kathy on November 22nd, 2007 in Christianity, Holidays

As I was walking through the parking lot at church on Sunday I passed a soldier in his resplendent uniform helping his mother out of the car. I stopped and smiled when I saw her expression, she was beaming at him. She turned in my direction and I said “You must be so proud.”

“I am” she answered, and her smile matched mine, and so did his.

“Thank you for your service, young man.” I said, my voice struggling to contain the emotion. “I’m proud of you, too.”

“Thanks, Ma’am” he nodded, and for a moment I thought he looked like a young John Wayne. He sounded just like him. He seemed larger than life, and I was overwhelmed with gratitude. Thanks be to God for such men as these.

Several moments later as we walked into the church, I passed the soldier’s mother again, tears welled in her eyes and she thanked me for saying what I had said to her son. I stopped her and reminded her that the debt was mine. We two grateful mothers in the vestibule exchanged knowing glances then turned to find our families already seated. The music was playing and the service was about to begin. I thanked God for that family and asked His blessings for them. My heart was filled with appreciation for that young man, his family, the thousands of such men that grace our national landscape, and those families who foster and nurture the strength of our nation. What a wealthy nation we are.

I took my place alongside my husband and my daughter as the music stopped and the minister began the Call to Worship. The scripture was Ps 100. “Make a joyful noise unto the Lord…”

Lots of people love the Psalms, and most favor the 23rd. I love it too, but the 100th is my favorite. Maybe because I’m noisy - but God knows I’m joyful. I have been greatly blessed in my life. The first hymn was a traditional Thanksgiving hymn, one I sang from at least forty years of memory: “We gather together to ask the Lord’s blessings, He hastens and chastens His will to make known, the wicked and oppressing now cease from distressing, sing praises to His name, He forgets not His own.” (I’m never sure which comes first -hastens or chastens?) I’m so grateful for my faith.

I looked around this church I’ve attended for so many years, where I’ve watched the changing faces of the children as they grew. It’s amazing that so many of us have grown children now, how quickly the gray has crept into our brows; the Dr. Pepper generation has become the salt and pepper congregation. I’m so grateful for my friends.

Beside me my husband sings offkey. I love that. He is living up to the joyful NOISE part. Hailey looks beautiful sitting to my left and she hits the notes perfectly. She will be married in this church in a few months. And I say a prayer for Gordon her fiance. I’m thankful for his sweetness and how well he fits into our family. He is a dream come true for a son in law. God has been faithful to my prayers and sent a good man to my daughter. I’m so grateful for my dreams and faith rewarded. I’m so grateful for my family.

I’m well. This past year I finally found a migraine medication that works. I’m free of that burden. I’m so grateful for my health. Oh of course I’ve found that middle age has the lesson of moderation built into every day, that I don’t have to ‘do’ anything in particular to wake up achy. But I can still live up to my father’s opinion of me, that I can do more than any six people… and for that I am grateful.

Not one thing that I have was earned. It was given to me through the Grace of God. I don’t deserve any of it, and from the breadth of my unworthiness comes the depth of my gratitude.

It boils down to that this Thanksgiving. Americans believe that God is the source of our inalienable rights and that government cannot take them away. It is the foundation of our society. We can’t take the credit but we must take the responsibility of preserving those gifts. For those men who stand and deliver our prosperity and security we must be grateful. We aren’t entitled to their protection, but by the Grace of God we have it.

So make a joyful noise at your Thanksgiving table today. There isn’t one thing that you have that God didn’t give you. If you’ve earned wealth, God gave you the opportunity and the knowledge to make it so. If you’ve earned success, God made it possible. If you draw breath, God makes it possible. As you look around at the faces around the table, thank God for them. I know from experience they won’t always be there and you’ll be like me (if you aren’t already) remembering the blessings of parents but unable to tell them in person.

If you want a grateful heart this Thanksgiving, know this one thing, God loves you, and I believe that He gave His son to prove it. All of our blessings come from Him.

Say thank you.

“Tomorrow being the day set apart by the Honorable Congress for public Thanksgiving and Praise; and duty calling us devoutly to express our grateful acknowledgements to God for the manifold blessings he has granted us, the General… earnestly exhorts, all officers and soldiers, whose absence is not indispensably necessary, to attend with reverence the solemnities of the day.” — George Washington (December 17, 1777)

One final note to my fellow bloggers at HRP - I thank my God upon every remembrance of you. God bless you and thank you for your work and loyal contributions, but most of all, thank you for your shining examples of friendship and dedication. God grant you a wonderful and joyous holiday.