Today is the day when many of us will celebrate the life of a dear lady who passed away a few days ago.  My quartet is singing for the memorial service.  I know it will be a rich time of sharing and reflecting for all of us whether we are friends or relatives.  I am thankful for days like this.  It helps me stay grounded in what is important in life.

I had a younger man call me last evening.  He is part of our Celebrate Recovery ministry.  He’s a very capable, intelligent young man who participated in some circles where he got caught and lost many of life’s privileges for a period of time.  In the past 3-4 months he has been rebounding having gotten a new job that is paying well, a boss that admires his capabilities and has promoted him already.  Some family issues he was up against are resolving, so life should be good.  However, the call last night was one of anxiety.  He was caught in the cycle of “what if’s’.  In listening to him for almost 30 minutes he would ask, “do you know what I’m saying?”  I finally said, I do know what you are saying but let me repeat for you what I “hear you saying’.  We shifted the conversation from all the anxious, worrisome statements consuming his mind to what God has been doing with him these last few months.  He finally said, “I should be praising him and thanking him shouldn’t I?”  I concurred wholeheartedly.

God has been awakening in me of late so many things for which I need to be giving Him thanks.  Even the trials of life become elements of thanksgiving when I see the surrendered trial being used to help someone caught in a similar one.  God is so amazing when we simply take our eyes off of today’s worries and look up.  I praise Him today!