“in everything give thanks; for this is God’s will for you in Christ Jesus”.  1 Thessalonians 5:18

These are the miscellaneous ramblings of my mind as I ran that turned into a quick post.  It may not be as polished, but I hope that this post is a blessing just the same.

I just enjoyed what was probably my last unencumbered run of the year.  As the weather cools, I will need to bundle up more than the average person.  It was a good run.  As I ran, I was reminded of this passage and the depth of its meaning.  In all likelihood, I thought of it as a result of spending the morning prepping for next week’s post on a very predictable topic.  The rest of the run I considered many of the things I am grateful for.

I am thankful that I can run, even with all of its encumbrances, regulations and limitation.  Ten years ago I spent most of my time on the sofa with barely any energy.  My goal for each day was to be showered and dressed before Marie came home. I don’t know how long God will allow me to continue running, but I appreciate them so much these days and don’t take them for granted.

I am thankful for music that keeps me moving.  Today it was my Christmas running playlist and I’m thankful for the artists that share their gifts with us.  I was also thankful for the wind blowing making the run harder as it reminded me that life can be difficult, but God is always with me encouraging me to keep moving forward no matter what I face.

I am thankful for every ache and pain as I run.  They remind of the years and the miles this body has endured.  They remind me that through all of those journeys, and those yet to come, God has been faithful and loving in spite of my errors and missteps. Some times have been sweet, others bitter and many in between, but they have all been blessed and were God’s will for me.

I am thankful for my illness.  It has brought me out of legalism and religion to a real relationship with my Lord that I may not have experienced otherwise.  I am thankful for the small ministry that I have as a result.  I am thankful for those who have walked this journey with me…not the least of which are my wife and daughters who have given up and suffered as much as I.  On that subject alone, I could go on for some time.

I am thankful for parents who did not abort me.  It’s not that my parents would have ever considered the notion, but nevertheless, our current culture would allow it.  Despite the fact that my birthday is in March, it would not be until 60 years ago next month that my mother’s doctor would acknowledge that she was pregnant.  He insisted that I was a tumor.  Mom, as both a mother twice over and a nurse, knew differently and held her ground.  Further, while my mother would never say this, my birth created some adjustments as I was significantly younger than my siblings.  Also, my birth was literally sandwiched between missionary board meetings in which my father was laying out the proposal for a new mission in Ecuador.  It’s one thing to move two teenagers to another country, but a toddler certainly complicated the mix.  While that was not to be, it certainly must have weighed on their minds.

I am thankful for those saints who have enriched my life but have gone to be with our Lord.  Their deaths have caused great sorrow and pain.  Yet I know that they have met their Lord and are enjoying eternity with Him.  How could I ever wish that their reward be postponed?  It is bittersweet, but I am both thankful for their time with us and that they currently enjoy peace and joy that in inexpressible.

I am grateful for many more things like; a mother and father-in-law who loved me, a great son-in-law, and two grandsons; a church that is faithful to God’s word and my church family; as well as the many things we normally consider blessings at this time of year.  However, I wanted to share what came to mind as I considered this verse.  God has been my God since birth and has planned all of the events of my life to bring me to this point and I am grateful.  Consequently, “I will praise the name of God with song and magnify Him with thanksgiving.”  (Ps. 69:30)