Gratefulness

Pausing to Remember

/ pastorpete51 / 1 Comment

On September 10, 2001 Nancy and I flew home safely past the Statue of Liberty to land in Newark. Were returning from visiting family in California and I looked forward to getting back to our normal schedule.

The next morning I got up and went back to work. It was a beautiful sunny day and I was mowing the big lawn behind one house where I had worked for many years. When I noticed the owner’s wife walking down the hill from the house I was quite surprised as she rarely walked around the grounds.

So I turned off my big mower and went up to see what she needed. “Hi Radica. What can I do for you?” I asked as I got off the seat of the lawn tractor to greet her.

She looked blankly up at me as she responded, “An airplane flew into the World trade Center and the towers just fell down.”

“Are you sure?” I asked incredulously. “They’re so big. I can’t believe it.”

“That’s what they are saying on the news.” she answered softly. “I’ve got to get back to the house and see what is going on.”

At first I just went down tot he truck and turned on my radio to double check that she understood everything correctly because the idea that anything so big could fall over seemed unreal. But I was stunned with the reports I heard as I tuned into the local radio station. Everything she had said was true: and more. A few minutes later I meekly knocked on her door and asked if I could watch with her. It felt as if our life was about to end and that everything we had been so concerned about the previous hour didn’t matter at all. There we sat together listening as new and terrible reports came in of other planes being hijacked and burning buildings. Nothing made any sense but somehow I finally excused myself as she watched with tears running down her face and I put my tools away to go home to my family.

This is exactly where I was that day

How little did Nancy and I know when we woke that morning that we would be spared while others would never be able to go home. Now 19 years later as I am looking back at that day it still doesn’t seem real. It still doesn’t make sense. But I have learned that in a life often filled with terrible things that don’t make sense to always be thankful for every one of God’s smallest blessings and that as He gives us ability we should always be ready to serve in every way He gives.

Taking Time to Be Thankful

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We have time to eat turkey

And time to have pie

Time to watch football

And for shopping on line

But for the blessings of God

Will they have time to say “Thanks”

Or just time for politics

And a film with Tom Hanks?

But when Christ is the center

Of all that we say

Then we truly can celebrate

Our Thanksgiving Day!

Thanksgiving- A Doorway to Christmas

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And one of them, when he saw that he was healed, turned back, and with a loud voice glorified God, and fell down on his face at his feet, giving him thanks: and he was a Samaritan. Luke 17:15-16 KJV

“What’s the magic word?” My Mom asked as I reached for the brownie in her hand. My six year old brain whirled for a moment then a little light went on in my brain. “Thank you Mom” As young children most of our parents make an attempt to teach us please and thank you. But why does it really matter? Jesus thinks it does and on the day he healed ten lepers He showed us why.  P1030323

That morning Jesus met ten men afflicted with the terrible disease of leprosy. They all kept their distance and shouted, “Jesus! Master! Have mercy on us!”  Jesus agreed to heal them, but first He sent them to the priest for inspection as the law required. On their way towards the village the men saw that their leprous spots had disappeared. Nine rushed forward towards the priest but one man did what always put a smile on my mother’s face; He went back to say thank you – without being asked!

He decided that he could wait to see everyone else; but he couldn’t wait to see Jesus. Then for the first time that he was allowed to come close to anyone, He fell at Jesus’ feet to worship and give thanks. As you read this maybe you’re still up to your elbows in leftover turkey. But what better way is there to open the door to Christmas than a special day to say thank you?