Psalm 9:1 “I will give thanks to the Lord with my whole Heart; I will tell of all thy wonderful deeds.”
At the beginning of a day, a moment or a journey how many times do we begin with gratitude? I wanted to begin my blog journey in sharing gratitude of faith even in times when it feels hidden beyond the trees. As a reminder that as with any path there is a time for trial and a time of joy. In our life we are witness to such profound beauty and sadness. How easy it is for us to be grateful in the goodness of life in the flight of joy. It is in the hours that we soar to depths of despair that our heart is truly tested and easily disheartened. It is in those crucial moments we are called to rise or descend. It is a defining moment of our faith.
As a daughter of immigrant parents, gratitude shaped me. We were reminded of the struggles of poverty in the lack of food, clothes and shelter in my families lives. As well as lack of education. My father would remind us, I had a pair of shoes with holes, I wore to school everyday. I came to Canada with $10 in my pocket. They slept in small quarters in upper levels of the flat with the sound and breath of animals below. Their school consisted of walking to a friend’s home to be taught the lessons of the day. They were grateful. They had what they needed. They had faith. In those moments of trial there was joy in the values and emotional spirit it took and the courage and strength within them to forge ahead in all times. They had faith. All in their life they had sweat for and reaped goodness. The struggle gave it value. They rose with dignity and strength. Things may happen that may discourage us but keeping our eyes firmly fixed on God’s Will, gives us clarity. Although, in circumstances it may be too painful giving it God allows us to rest in his passion and guidance. May we be able to let go and let Him in our lives. Allow the mystery to unfold.
At my blessed mother’s funeral a scripture reading dear to my heart begins, Ecclesiastes 3:1-11 For everything there is a season and for every matter under heaven.. God reminds us there is a time for all things and he will strengthen and prepare us. His will be done, not ours. At times of such pain as the situation in our life may be, reminding ourselves that in that moment of such trial, God is with us. He redeems us. In my life when I set my eyes on God’s purpose for it in my life, it puts flight in my spirit. When I give it to God I feel boundless. I reflect on the trials of the past and think of all the ways they strengthened me. They allowed me to grow spiritually, emotionally, intellectually and share my life with others in incredible ways. The pain of mortality allowed me to gain the passion and remove obstacles in my life. Gratitude. Sometimes we can be our own worst enemy studying what we lack instead of becoming proficient at blessings around us. I believe even in the trials His will wants me to break away from the old me and be renewed in His plans for me. If it’s His will, I hope I say , “Yes”. Then my heart is able to see the glorious purpose He has for my life. It can transform us. Let life evolve into amazing. Think of a time of pain or struggle and reflect on all the positive actions and abilities it has brought in your life. Choose a blessing and view it in all its goodness.
How richer our lives can be when we thank God for what or who he has placed in our lives and open our heart to Him. Without gratitude there is entitlement which rots the soul. Trust God. Do God’s works. We pray and ask for things to happen in our life. If they turn out differently that we would have wanted we think our prayers may have not been answered. Rest for a bit before you hasten any judgement. Give thanks in it and allow it to unfold in His name. It can be cowardly to assume trials are to punish. Can we boldly assume that trials are to save us? Redeem us. He works miracles in our lives. May we give thanks.
Ecclesiastes 3:1-11 “For everything there is a season, and a time for every matter under heaven: 2 a time to be born, and a time to die; a time to plant, and a time to pluck up what is planted; 3 a time to kill, and a time to heal; a time to break down, and a time to build up; 4 a time to weep, and a time to laugh; a time to mourn, and a time to dance; 5 a time to cast away stones, and a time to gather stones together; a time to embrace, and a time to refrain from embracing; 6 a time to seek, and a time to lose; a time to keep, and a time to cast away; 7 a time to rend, and a time to sew; a time to keep silence, and a time to speak; 8 a time to love, and a time to hate; a time for war, and a time for peace. 9 What gain has the worker from his toil? 10 I have seen the business that God has given to the sons of men to be busy with. 11 He has made everything beautiful in its time; also he has put eternity into man’s mind, yet so that he cannot find out what God has done from the beginning to the end.”
Peace,
Claudia
Our Nourished Soul