“Oh, give thanks to the LORD, for He is good! For His mercy endures forever.” Psalm 136:1
When I begin to take stock of the blessings in my life, of all the things I’m thankful for, I can’t help but begin with this verse. Every blessing I have in life, every good thing I enjoy, stems from God’s never-ending mercy. Tonight at dinner with my family, my mom had all of us share what we’re most thankful for, and I had to start here. Were it not for the mercy of God towards me…well…who knows where I’d be. Certainly not where I am.
I wandered far from my Lord for many of my years, only to be chased down by “the Hound of Heaven”, as the old poem goes. God could have very easily gave up on me…but He didn’t. He continued to call, to chase…to forgive. Can there ever be enough words for me to thank Him for His forgiveness?
When I look at my beautiful wife, I see the mercy of God in giving me far beyond what I could ever deserve. When I see the smiles on my beautiful girls, I see the goodness of God in making me a dad. When I sit around a table with my mom and dad, brothers and sisters, and laugh, I’m thankful that God has given me a large family that seems to genuinely love one another. I’m thankful when I look at my mom and dad that God gave me two amazing parents to raise me and teach me the right way, and that He’s given them 54 years together.
I’m thankful for the friends I have, and their love for my family. I’m thankful for a church where the Truth is taught, and where people can be real with one another. I’m thankful God has given me the chance to take a gift I once took for granted and use it to glorify Him. Seldom is that one lost on me, Lord!
I’m just thankful…don’t know how else to say it.
“Oh give thanks to the Lord, for He is good. His mercy endures forever!” Amen.
The Wading Pool 