4 years later we are able to give even greater thanks to the Lord for our previous trial. God is good. God is faithful.
Thanksgiving in All Things.
“giving thanks always and for everything to God the Father in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ,” – Ephesians 5:20
We are giving thanks today for many things even when we learned early yesterday evening that our house was completely flooded while we are out of town for the Thanksgiving holiday. This news came just prior to four kids full of anticipation ready to leave for the Columbus Blue Jacket’s hockey game, and a sister and her family who traveled from Michigan to share the Thanksgiving weekend with us when we return later today.
Here is what we know.
Yesterday, we received a call letting us know water was completely covering the hardwood floors in our kitchen. The water was freely flowing from underneath the kitchen sink. Apparently, a hose busted and tap water had been unhindered between the time period of Monday and yesterday evening.
As we know, water has a hunger to move to the lowest point possible. Our kitchen is directly above our finished basement and the basement is where it’s hunger was satisfied. The basement is a complete disaster. Water had seeped down the air vents into the basement. A large portion of the finished ceiling has fallen and the Pergo flooring and carpets are soaked.
People share a host of things on social media for a variety of reasons. We do not share this as a way to look for sympathy or with some “woe is me” victim mentality fishing for consoling comments.
Conversely, it is often easy to share only good things or joyous times in life without any acknowledgement of hardships. If somehow that has been your impression, we long for you to see our not so pleasant reality, but more so the reality of a settled faith (trust, dependence, reliability) in Jesus Christ.
We live in a fallen and broken world and no one is exempt from trials, pain, suffering, difficulties, or disappointments. Yet through the highs and lows in life, a true follower of Jesus can give “thanks always and for everything” in part because He is the wise and good Father molding us, shaping us, and maturing us to be more like Him in all things.
Other Christ followers have walked similar roads before. When John Wesley, who was a minster and evangelist in the 1700’s, learned his home had been destroyed by fire, his response was; “No, the Lord’s house burned. One less responsibility for me.”
So on this Thanksgiving holiday there are many people and things to cause our hearts to bubble up with thanksgiving to the Lord.
Here are few things we are thankful for “to God the Father in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ” on this Thanksgiving Day of 2016 in light of our flooded home.
- Our daughter Sydney celebrates her 12th birthday today!
- A faithful, sweet, friend who checks on our home when we are out of town and notified us.
- Two loving and supporting sisters and brother-in-laws.
- Good neighbors who are available and trustworthy.
- Homeowners insurance.
- A proactive insurance agent.
- Children who are learning the vanity of stuff.
- Ready service people who began work late last night.
- A wife who understands… IT IS ONLY A HOUSE.
- A couple of weeks of prior cleaning and simplifying the stuff in our home and particularly our basement.
- A place to even call home.
- A host of family and friends we have the privilege to “do life” with.
- A church family who is supportive, prayerful, and gracious.
- The redeeming love of Christ who is preparing an eternal “home” in heaven that will never fade or flood!
“giving thanks always and for everything to God the Father in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ,” – Ephesians 5:20