Gratitude on Steroids
I sometimes get very busy and move from one area of my life into another. My life is somewhat compartmentalized into three areas: Personal, Work and Ministry. The lines or boundaries between these three areas are not very clean and clear. I sometimes end up trying to find someone a home and end up praying with him or her over something they are going through personally. I also find myself at church serving and someone asks me a real estate question. I’ve learned that all areas of my life impact the other. I believe I’m right where God has called me to be…in all of these distinct areas.
This past Sunday when I got word that my son Luke had fallen from a tree and was being airlifted to a Trauma 1 hospital in Atlanta, my three worlds collided and time seemed to stop. I talk to God pretty often, but our conversations went to a whole different level. My adrenaline was pumping as I started trying to get to my son as quickly as possible. The unknown can be a crazy place to be. Upon arrival to the hospital, I was able to see him and while he looked terrible, the doctors and the nurses began reporting that his injuries were not life threatening. I began thanking the Lord. We are home now and it’s been 5 days and he’s doing well. We have a ways to go in recovery from his injuries, but his life was spared. I’ve been trying to think of a way to express to the Lord my gratitude. I felt some help in this area as I read Hannah’s prayer for her son Samuel, when she was dedicating him to the Lord and leaving him to serve in the temple like she said she would. Check this out….
1 Then Hannah prayed and said:
‘My heart rejoices in the Lord;
in the Lord my horn[a] is lifted high.
My mouth boasts over my enemies,
for I delight in your deliverance.
2 ‘There is no one holy like the Lord;
there is no one besides you;
there is no Rock like our God.
3 ‘Do not keep talking so proudly
or let your mouth speak such arrogance,
for the Lord is a God who knows,
and by him deeds are weighed. (1 Samuel 2:1-3 NIV)
I am thankful beyond words. I can’t find the proper words for my fingers to hammer out on my laptop. I have found myself just looking at Luke this past week thanking the Lord and thinking about what could have been.
For the last month I feel like the Lord has reminded me to have gratitude deep in my heart. I’ve prayed often that the Lord cultivate gratitude in my heart for all that He has done for me and all that He’s doing for me and my family. I feel like my gratitude prayers are now on steroids. I feel so very blessed and humbled by the miracle of Luke’s fall. I’m sure that God has something significant to do through that young man.
As I reflect on the passage in 1 Samuel, the word says…. 26 And the boy Samuel continued to grow in stature and in favor with the Lord and with people. (1 Samuel 2:26 NIV)
I’m praying for Luke to hear God’s call upon his young life. I’m thankful for the call of God on our life to love this kid and welcome him into our lives as our own. I’m so thankful that I’m somewhat speechless.
Pressing On!
Dwayne