>Here is a little something I wrote for my family at Thanksgiving a few years ago. I was inspired by the song “Gratitude” by Nichole Nordeman, and felt I needed to put some words down. I tried to find the song for my profile, but had no luck. You’ll have to find it yourself! Happy Thanksgiving…

Hundreds of years ago, a group of rebels crossed the ocean, and decided to make a strange land their new home. Imagine what dreams they had on the boat! I wonder if they dreamed of the blessings God would bestow upon them when they arrived; the riches they would find; the feasts they would have. I’m sure the windy nights on the long trip across the Atlantic were filled with prayers. “Father, bring us water, food and peace.” “God, Keep us safe.” History tells us that not every day was easy. Not every person survived. Not everyone was warm. But history also tells us that, in the midst of all the turmoil and hardships, the pilgrims took a day to gather together and thank God for His many blessings, and centuries later we still come together to celebrate that day. Don’t let today be just about the turkey and noodles. Look around you and let today be a day to thank God for what He’s done for you. Remember that while you dine on stuffing and pie, most of the world dines on rice—if anything at all. Remember that while the children in our family make noise and get under our feet while we cook, there are a lot of couples yearning to conceive. Remember also that while you may be asking God to answer your prayers the way you want, He may have already answered them the way He wants. Take the time today to thank Him. Our Lord provides for us in ways we see every day, and also in ways we’ll never understand. He deserves our praise! Please, enjoy this song, and while you do, I hope you take from it what I have. That God is bigger than we can ever imagine—His ways are not always like ours.

Send some rain, would you send some rain? ‘Cause the earth is dry and needs to drink again. The sun is high and we are sinking in the shade.

Would you send a cloud – thunder long and loud? Let the sky grow black, and send some mercy down.Surely you can see that we are thirsty and afraid.

But maybe not, not today. Maybe you’ll provide in other ways,

And if that’s the case…

We’ll give thanks to You with gratitude, For lessons learned in how to thirst for you. How to bless the very sun that warms our face If you never send us rain.

Daily bread, give us daily bread. Bless our bodies, keep our children fed. Fill our cups, then fill them up again tonight. Wrap us up, and warm us through Tucked away beneath our sturdy roofs. Let us slumber safe from danger’s view this time.

Or maybe not, not today Maybe You’ll provide in other ways,

And if that’s the case…

We’ll give thanks to You with gratitude – A lesson learned to hunger after You. That a starry sky offers a better view if no roof is overhead – if we never taste that bread.

Oh the differences that often are between Everything we want and what we really need.

So grant us peace, Jesus, grant us peace Move our hearts to hear a single beat between alibis and enemies tonight.

Or maybe not, not today. Peace might be another world away,

And if that’s the case…
We’ll give thanks to You with gratitude For lessons learned in how to trust in You. That we are blessed beyond what we could ever dream – in abundance or in need – if you never grant us peace.

But Jesus, would you please…