And now, just as you accepted Christ Jesus as your Lord, you must continue to follow him. Let your roots grow down into him, and let your lives be built on him. Then your faith will grow strong in the truth you were taught, and you will overflow with thankfulness. —Colossians 2:6-7 NLT (emphasis mine)
I really loved my British grandmother. She was a tiny woman (5 foot even) with a great big generous heart. Her eyes twinkled, and she was full of mischief. Everything and everybody fascinated her. When you were fortunate enough to visit with her, you felt super important because she asked questions and she hung on your every word.
However, Grandma had one habit that I did not love. When we finished eating all that was on our plates, she would stand up and ladle out more, while simultaneously asking us if we wanted more. Of course, by the time we had said no thank you, the plate was full again. It was quite the conundrum. Especially when you did not particularly love the lamb and mint sauce you had initially been served. But there you were, facing it once again. Grandma knew how to overflow a plate! And we were the (mostly) thankful recipients of her exuberant feeding habits.
Our scripture today tells us that as we continue to follow Jesus, letting our roots go down deep in Him, that we will overflow with thankfulness as a result of a life lived knowing Him. So, I’d like to offer some overflowing thanksgivings today. These are not the typical thanks for things like food to eat and clothing to wear. No, these are the weirder things I am thankful for this year of pandemic and pandemonium.
Masks on Airplanes. Yes, you heard me right. I flew to Alaska in early October and, of course, had to wear a mask on the plane. Here’s a little secret I never thought I’d be sharing on a blog post. When I sleep, my mouth stretches wide open. And there might even be some drooling going on. In short, it’s not pretty. In the past, this has prevented me from sleeping on airplanes. I had some sense of respect for my fellow passengers and the unattractive view I would be presenting. But not now. No sir. Now that I wear a mask on a plane, I sleep soundly, confident in knowing that no one sees that unsightly sight. I might just continue to wear a mask when I sleep on a plane even when they aren’t mandated. It was quite relaxing, and I was thankful for the rest.
Yasso frozen yogurt treats. Like many others, I packed on the weight at the beginning of the pandemic, gaining the “quarantine fifteen” and then some. So, I’ve started the long and arduous task of losing it all again. The discovery of Yasso, the low-calorie frozen yogurt on a stick has been a huge boon. If I keep to my calorie count, my reward each night is a Yasso. I eat it with gusto and without guilt!
The Sweater with a Name. Yes, one of my sweaters has a name. It used to belong to my father-in-law, and it’s positively ancient—a sort of army green with brown buttons and lots of nubs from years of use. But it is The Warmest Sweater Ever. He always requested it on cold days, and we named it “Old Faithful.” Dad has now been in Heaven two full years, but Old Faithful still hangs in my closet. And on cold days I pull it out and wrap myself in warmth and sweet memories.
Orthopedic Attractive Shoes. Yes, there really are such things. I have plantar fasciitis, so for a time walking was agony for me. But during this pandemic season, I walked a lot. Especially at the beginning when, quite frankly, there wasn’t much else to do. Also, it helped reduce that quarantine fifteen I mentioned earlier. It used to be that orthopedic shoes and sneakers looked really weird. Not anymore. I have fun boots, sneakers, and regular shoes that enable me to walk and still feel normal at the same time—definitely a win win.
Heated Mattress Pad. Ray and I indulged a few years ago and bought a mattress pad that comes with dual heaters. On a cold November night after a hard day, it’s awfully nice to pre-warm the bed to the exact temperature of my liking and snuggle in deep. Such a ridiculous luxury. Which brings me to my main point.
Despite all the hard things: murder hornets, hurricanes, wildfires, pandemics, and politics, most of us still have a ridiculous amount to be thankful for, don’t we? When you stop to think about it, the multiple reasons to be thankful overflow the mind and pour over us with awe and gratitude. This Thanksgiving, let’s notice what we still have—big and small or even weird—and let’s be thankful!
Heavenly Father, thank You for every good gift You have given. Help us to notice the good right in the middle of the hard, please. Thank You for every single blessing in my life. Truly, I’m overflowing with thankfulness today. Give us eyes to see all Your gifts, Lord. In Jesus’ Name, Amen.
You are loved,
Sharon
Sweet Selah Ministries
Vision
To inspire a movement away from the belief that “busy is better”
and toward the truth of God’s Word that stillness and knowing
Him matter most—and will be reflected in more effective work and service
Mission
To offer biblical resources and retreats that help women pause (Selah)
and love God more deeply as they know Him more intimately (Sweet)
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