TulipGirl

A friend from church called up the other day, and in the conversation mentioned that she’d been reading my daily “giving thanks” posts. I shared with her that I chose to post the short lists of things for which I’m thankful each day, in part because I’ve been very anxious recently. It’s not situational, it’s not unusual environmental stress. Instead, it’s just been extra tension, extra anxiety.

And for me, I knew that refocusing on God and His gracious gifts would calm my anxious heart.

“. . .do not be anxious about anything, but in everything by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known to God. And the peace of God, which surpasses all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus.”
– Phil 4:6-7

Not that I think this is a magic bullet, a formula to follow, a substitute for medical aid. . . But for me, I know that I needed to spend time meditating on how good the Lord has been to me, being thankful for all His kindnesses, for the amazing generosities and small details of goodness that have come from God. And I am thankful that He has calmed my anxious heart.

Cultivating a thankful heart, looking to God as provider and sustainer, each day this month I’m posting that for which I’m thankful. . .

* My immediate family
* My extended family
* God’s faithfulness this year
* Singing with joy
* Brothers and sisters at St. Paul’s Missionary Baptist Church

In every thing give thanks: for this is the will of God in Christ Jesus concerning you. I Th 5:18

Cultivating a thankful heart, looking to God as provider and sustainer, each day this month I’m posting that for which I’m thankful. . .

* My second son’s birthday
* His thoughtfulness
* His expressive eyes
* His love of the unusual
* His patience

In every thing give thanks: for this is the will of God in Christ Jesus concerning you. I Th 5:18

Cultivating a thankful heart, looking to God as provider and sustainer, each day this month I’m posting that for which I’m thankful. . .

* My youngest baby’s birthday
* His rascaliness
* His crazy laugh
* Flexible fun
* Family

In every thing give thanks: for this is the will of God in Christ Jesus concerning you. I Th 5:18

Cultivating a thankful heart, looking to God as provider and sustainer, each day this month I’m posting that for which I’m thankful. . .

* Boys who like brie
* Cannolis and coffee-milk
* Encouragement from unexpected quarters
* Long, long-distance calls
* Laughter

In every thing give thanks: for this is the will of God in Christ Jesus concerning you. I Th 5:18

Cultivating a thankful heart, looking to God as provider and sustainer, each day this month I’m posting that for which I’m thankful. . .

* Hope PCA
* Membership vows
* Professions of faith
* Covenant community
* Preaching of the Gospel

In every thing give thanks: for this is the will of God in Christ Jesus concerning you. I Th 5:18

Cultivating a thankful heart, looking to God as provider and sustainer, each day this month I’m posting that for which I’m thankful. . .

* Peace, not as the world gives
* Cowboy songs and stories, as delivered by R9
* Low key holiday shopping, online and in person
* New neighbors, a foreclosed house sold
* Simple Saturdays

In every thing give thanks: for this is the will of God in Christ Jesus concerning you. I Th 5:18

Cultivating a thankful heart, looking to God as provider and sustainer, each day this month I’m posting that for which I’m thankful. . .

* Learning, reviewing CPR
* Having never to actually use CPR
* Sharing the ups and downs of wedding planning
* God’s amazing mercy
* Hubby’s patience

In every thing give thanks: for this is the will of God in Christ Jesus concerning you. I Th 5:18

Cultivating a thankful heart, looking to God as provider and sustainer, each day this month I’m posting that for which I’m thankful. . .

* Being still and knowing He is God
* Blank books
* A friend who lets me grump then helps me laugh
* Old Bisbee Roasters coffee
* Long distance phone calls

In every thing give thanks: for this is the will of God in Christ Jesus concerning you. I Th 5:18

Cultivating a thankful heart, looking to God as provider and sustainer, each day this month I’m posting that for which I’m thankful. . .

* Positive feedback from some of Hubby’s job feelers
* The ability to type and think and write papers
* That I’m okay with myself not being able to pull all-nighters like I used to do
* Good neighbors
* Yummy tea when I’m out of coffee

In every thing give thanks: for this is the will of God in Christ Jesus concerning you. I Th 5:18

Cultivating a thankful heart, looking to God as provider and sustainer, each day this month I’m posting that for which I’m thankful. . .

* A working washer and dryer
* A working heater
* The financial means to pay large library fines
* A Paris lithograph for the dining room, a gift from Hubby
* Energetic boys

In every thing give thanks: for this is the will of God in Christ Jesus concerning you. I Th 5:18

Cultivating a thankful heart, looking to God as provider and sustainer, each day this month I’m posting that for which I’m thankful. . .

* Hubby making a big pot of borsch
* Cooler Florida weather
* When Mondays are over
* Hulu.com
* God’s faithfulness

In every thing give thanks: for this is the will of God in Christ Jesus concerning you. I Th 5:18

Cultivating a thankful heart, looking to God as provider and sustainer, each day this month I’m posting that for which I’m thankful. . .

* Hot tea for sore throats
* A cabinet full of OTC meds
* Boys who are extra snuggly when sick
* Hubby who takes good care of me
* Student Office Software Suite

In every thing give thanks: for this is the will of God in Christ Jesus concerning you. I Th 5:18

Cultivating a thankful heart, looking to God as provider and sustainer, each day this month I’m posting that for which I’m thankful. . .

* Five family birthdays in November
* A fresh haircut
* SIL’s fab haircutting skills
* The good pressure of having deadlines
* Great weather for being outdoors

In every thing give thanks: for this is the will of God in Christ Jesus concerning you. I Th 5:18

Cultivating a thankful heart, looking to God as provider and sustainer, each day this month I’m posting that for which I’m thankful. . .

* Weekends
* Hubby doing the grocery shopping
* Cell phones
* Encouraging phone calls
* Living near (some) family

In every thing give thanks: for this is the will of God in Christ Jesus concerning you. I Th 5:18

Cultivating a thankful heart, looking to God as provider and sustainer, each day this month I’m posting that for which I’m thankful. . .

* Filling my gas tank for $20
* Antibiotics
* Being friends with Hubby’s mom
* Files in .pdf format
* Encouraging words

In every thing give thanks: for this is the will of God in Christ Jesus concerning you. I Th 5:18

Cultivating a thankful heart, looking to God as provider and sustainer, each day this month I’m posting that for which I’m thankful. . .

* Hugs from kiddos
* Fast computers
* Slow walks
* Hot food
* Sleep

In every thing give thanks: for this is the will of God in Christ Jesus concerning you. I Th 5:18

Cultivating a thankful heart, looking to God as provider and sustainer, each day this month I’m posting that for which I’m thankful. . .

* Men and women who serve our country in the military
* People from older generations who remind us of our history
* Older Believers who remind us of our Christian heritage
* Pastors and family who remind us of God’s covenant faithfulness
* Encouragement in real life and online

In every thing give thanks: for this is the will of God in Christ Jesus concerning you. I Th 5:18

Cultivating a thankful heart, looking to God as provider and sustainer, each day this month I’m posting that for which I’m thankful. . .

* Young love
* Mature love
* Jon and Rebecca’s engagement
* Laughs with friends
* Friends far and near

In every thing give thanks: for this is the will of God in Christ Jesus concerning you. I Th 5:18

Cultivating a thankful heart, looking to God as provider and sustainer, each day this month I’m posting that for which I’m thankful. . .

* Corporate worship
* Communion of the saints
* Elders who take their responsibilities seriously
* Boys who are learning to grasp the Gospel
* Transparency in relationships

In every thing give thanks: for this is the will of God in Christ Jesus concerning you. I Th 5:18

Cultivating a thankful heart, looking to God as provider and sustainer, each day this month I’m posting that for which I’m thankful. . .

* A clean house
* A hot meal
* A three/four day weekend
* Working wifi
* God’s steadfastness

In every thing give thanks: for this is the will of God in Christ Jesus concerning you. I Th 5:18

Cultivating a thankful heart, looking to God as provider and sustainer, each day this month I’m posting that for which I’m thankful. . .

* Living in sunny Florida
* Friends, who come to visit us, not just Florida
* Really good coffee
* Cool days / hot stew
* Snuggly boys

In every thing give thanks: for this is the will of God in Christ Jesus concerning you. I Th 5:18

Cultivating a thankful heart, looking to God as provider and sustainer, each day this month I’m posting that for which I’m thankful. . .

* Watching history unfold
* Friends, near and far
* Homeschooling the boys
* Rearranging furniture
* Hubby, who does the rearranging

In every thing give thanks: for this is the will of God in Christ Jesus concerning you. I Th 5:18

Cultivating a thankful heart, looking to God as provider and sustainer, each day this month I’m posting that for which I’m thankful. . .

* Free and democratic elections
* Freedom of religion
* Freedom to pursue dreams
* Freedom of speech
* Free wifi

In every thing give thanks: for this is the will of God in Christ Jesus concerning you. I Th 5:18

Cultivating a thankful heart, looking to God as provider and sustainer, each day this month I’m posting that for which I’m thankful. . .

* Our God, who provides all our needs
* My mother, her friendship and constancy
* Good books
* Boys who love to read
* The First Amendment

In every thing give thanks: for this is the will of God in Christ Jesus concerning you. I Th 5:18

Cultivating a thankful heart, looking to God as provider and sustainer, each day this month I’m posting that for which I’m thankful. . .

* Our church home, after a long time without
* Sunday School teachers who study and teach the boys
* Paintball fun this weekend
* Really good coffee
* Free elections, in spite of the craziness

In every thing give thanks: for this is the will of God in Christ Jesus concerning you. I Th 5:18

Cultivating a thankful heart, looking to God as provider and sustainer, each day this month I’m posting that for which I’m thankful. . .

* Our home, warm and getting more organized
* Our neighborhood kids, playing with my boys
* Hubby’s energy this week
* Bible study plans with the ILs
* Scarf-wearing weather

In every thing give thanks: for this is the will of God in Christ Jesus concerning you. I Th 5:18

Today was a beautiful day. Ski clear and cool, perfect weather for studying out on the lanai, which I did most of this afternoon. A perfect day. The boys running around playing cops and robbers in the backyard.

And then.

C7 ran in, “It’s important! Alex’s little sister is in the pool!” Not our pool, thank God. But the way he said it, I thought he had just found her there.

I ran outside.

Already a firetruck, ambulance and police were at our neighbor’s house. The medics were moving quickly, so I’m hopeful she has a chance. But I don’t know. I’m scared. A bit panicky. All the neighbors are outside. Stunned. One tells me, “This is enough. When will it end?”

Less than two months ago, another neighbor lost a child. A teenaged boy. The shock, the mourning. The surreality of it all. They are our next door neighbors. I know they are still reeling from it all.

The boys play with Alex. He is 10. I don’t know his family. His little sister is less than 2 years old. The boys don’t know her name. I don’t know how to reach out, how to comfort, how to be in someone’s life in tragedy when I haven’t involved during the normal seasons of life. A friend of mine has been the gentle prodding example of community, within the church and within the neighborhood. Community appeals to me, community invites anxiety within me.

Please pray for Alex, his little sister and their family.

I don’t want this to be a grey autumn.

UPDATE: 10/27 — No news yet from the neighbors. Thank you for your continued prayers.

UPDATE: 10/30 — I haven’t seen the neighbor’s at home. Another neighbor said the little girl was taken to All Children’s Hospital, which I take as both a good and scary sign. Good, in that she’s made it so far. Scary, in that she’s probably having serious complications. Thank you for continuing in prayer for this family, and being encouraging to me as I struggled with the shock and upset.

This is my Father’s world, and to my listening ears
All nature sings, and round me rings the music of the spheres.
This is my Father’s world: I rest me in the thought
Of rocks and trees, of skies and seas;
His hand the wonders wrought.

This is my Father’s world, the birds their carols raise,
The morning light, the lily white, declare their Maker’s praise.
This is my Father’s world: He shines in all that’s fair;
In the rustling grass I hear Him pass;
He speaks to me everywhere.

This is my Father’s world. O let me ne’er forget
That though the wrong seems oft so strong, God is the ruler yet.
This is my Father’s world: the battle is not done:
Jesus Who died shall be satisfied,
And earth and Heav’n be one.

This is my Father’s world, dreaming, I see His face.
I ope my eyes, and in glad surprise cry, “The Lord is in this place.”
This is my Father’s world, from the shining courts above,
The Beloved One, His Only Son,
Came—a pledge of deathless love.

This is my Father’s world, should my heart be ever sad?
The lord is King—let the heavens ring. God reigns—let the earth be glad.
This is my Father’s world. Now closer to Heaven bound,
For dear to God is the earth Christ trod.
No place but is holy ground.

This is my Father’s world. I walk a desert lone.
In a bush ablaze to my wondering gaze God makes His glory known.
This is my Father’s world, a wanderer I may roam
Whate’er my lot, it matters not,
My heart is still at home.

– Maltbie D. Babcock / Franklin Sheppard

The other night my nine-year-old called me over to the couch, hymnal in hand, and sang to me.

Frail children of dust, and feeble as frail,
In Thee do we trust, nor find Thee to fail;
Thy mercies how tender, how firm to the end,
Our Maker, Defender, Redeemer, and Friend.

One of the first hymns the boys and I learned together when they were preschoolers was “O Worship The King.” It’s #2 in the Trinity Hymnal, and like the hymns we sing most often, easy to find with the smudges on the pages from little hands. We sung it in church this morning, and I found myself starting to tear up again. It’s been a rough week. My praises to God are lisping, humble and frail. I needed the reminders of His firm faithfulness.