Raindrops of Thanksgiving

I have been reading the words of thanks as my friends post daily their thoughts on gratitude—an excellent exercise in the recognition of an abundant life.  Family, work, friends, health, nature, sunshine, pets, food, shelter, joy, and on and on goes the list. If the practice becomes one of daily exercise, we wake every morning to the wonder that a new day brings, knowing we have much for which to be grateful. And we can name them – one by one.

 I am reminded of a song that says, “Give thanks with a grateful heart” and I cannot help but wonder if the mind and heart always work together in giving thanks. We know in our minds that we can list those things for which we are thankful. We know in our minds that we have a warm bed. We know in our minds there is food in our refrigerator. We know filling our car with gas is routine. And yes, we are thankful for those seemingly simple abundances. We have been given so much and we want to express it.

But does the listing of our abundances give us a grateful heart?  Which comes first—gratitude or thanks?  Of course, it is gratitude which must come first. We recognize somewhere down in our soul that we are part of an amazing plan. Just look up on a starry night. Spend some time there and you will feel that you belong in some plan that is bigger than yourself. Gaze into a sunset or watch rain falling orderly outside a window and tell yourself, “I am a part of this life and I have a great benefactor who loves me. God, it is you and I feel this gratitude in my heart.”

Gratitude in our hearts is an emotion we feel when we strip away all the noisy stuff of the world that says we have to have this or that to give thanks. And gratitude can still be residing in our hearts when our world has fallen apart, when our hearts are broken.  Gratitude is simply saying the first verse of the 23^rd Psalm, “The Lord is my shepherd, I have everything I need.”

Thanksgiving then, is the overflowing of our grateful hearts and then becomes this joyous, outlandish listing of blessings.  The Psalmist goes on to say, “He prepares a table before us in the presence of our enemies.” Don’t you love that? Even as wars, famines, floods, storms, diseases, and disasters surround us this Thanksgiving, God alone prepares for us a table of abundance. A table full of love and assurance that in His care, we have everything we need. And we are more than satisfied. Our hearts are full of gratitude to Him.

The sharing of our gratitude then becomes thanksgiving. We must share our gratitude, for if we don’t we are not being thankful to God or to our fellow man (and that, by the way includes spouse, parents, children, co-workers.)The writer of Hebrews call thanks the very fruit of our lips:

Hebrews 13:15 Therefore by Him let us continually offer the sacrifice of praise to God, that is, the fruit of our lips, giving thanks to His name.

 

 

Benefits of Retreat ...and this does not mean running away

View of Marsh at Epworth by the Sea

A retreat is one way a person can find a safe spot in which to grieve.  Finding a safe spot in which to grieve helps the griever to move to a new spot in their grief. And that is where healing occurs. Little steps. One at a time. Gaining strength after a tremendous loss.

Retreat can be something as simple as sitting quietly in your home with no distractions of phone, tv, or yes, even the people we love.  All is quiet and you have prepared yourself to be still and consider where you are exactly in your grief. But listen up, being still is NOT doing nothing. Being still and focusing on the movement of grief is actually very hard work.

You can also go away for a retreat. Churches offer one-day events. Retreat centers offer one to three day, sometimes week-long retreats. They can be simple and very affordable or resort-like and expensive. Regardless of the style or cost, the mission is the same - to offer participants the space and tools to leave the retreat in a much stronger place than upon arrival.


Epworth by the Sea

This past weekend, eighteen women gathered from all walks of like to plunge into the task of grieving the loss of a child. Epworth by the Sea www.epworthbythesea.org/  on the Georgia coast provided a peaceful, beautiful setting for the work to begin. And it was work - from telling the painful stories, to finding gratitude, looking for joy, reaching out to the community, and experiencing God's love, these women left the retreat, energized and willing to return to homes with new thoughts, new feelings, and new hopes.

These women were willing to move to a new spot. They wanted to take the first step and decide to move from the loss of a loved one to a new place without them. Never forgetting them, but leaving them to be where they are they decide to walk the rest of their life without their living presence in their life. And it is okay. And it is healthy.

Many will never allow themselves the benefit of retreat. They think it is for weaklings or those who just want to stay in their sorrow. Quite the contrary, those who bravely come, choose to say, "I want to do something with my pain and move to a new place in my life.  I may require a little more time, and have to work at it a little harder. But in working through, I will find my joy again. I will.

 Psalm 30:5 says, "Weeping may last for a night, but joy comes in the morning."

Have you found your joy?

A Song for Those Who Grieve

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zH87Hdd5O28&feature=player_embedded

 

The beauty of the music at my church this past Sunday keeps resonating in my heart. All Saints Sunday remembers those who have gone on to their eternal home. The service is dedicated to remembering, finding hope in scripture and song, celebrating with Holy Communion. Sometimes we don't  have to fully understand something to find meaning. It is simply faith.  I think it is when we allow our hearts just to "be" and move with the rhythm of grief, longing, and the mystery of death and life beyond. That is when we find hope...and peace.

Below are the words, but take time to listen to it being sung. You will be glad you did.

Sing me To Heaven

In my heart's sequestered chambers lie truths stripped of poets' gloss

Words alone are vain and vacant, and my heart is mute

In response to aching silence, memory summons half-heard voices

And my soul finds primal eloquence, and wraps me in song

If you would comfort me, sing me a lullaby

If you would win my heart, sing me a love song

If you would mourn me and bring me to God,

Sing me a requiem, sing me to Heaven

 

Touch in me all love and passion, pain and pleasure

Touch in me grief and comfort, love and passion, pain and pleasure

Sing me a lullaby, a love song, a requiem

Love me, comfort me, bring me to God

Sing me a love song, sing me to Heaven

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zH87Hdd5O28&feature=player_embedded