24 Nov Thankful Forever

Here we are, about to move into the holiday season again. For me, there’s a sort of holiday cycle that I tend to go through. At first, I’m peaceful.

Lovely images of how the holidays could be, with my family and traditions and football rivalry matchups and Christmas music all flowing through my mind. Then, something will jar me into a more “realistic” frame of mind as I remember how many teacher gifts I ought to buy, that I need to figure out some special meals that my finicky kids will actually eat, and just who’s going to be staying at the family homes where we’ll be spending the two holidays. Next, I’ll shift into “get it done” mode, and this will generally carry me through the following weeks and before I know it, it’s all over for yet another year.  From peaceful…to realistic…to task-oriented. The question was recently posed to me about thankfulness. Upon reflection, I at first kind of panicked that maybe I’m not very really truly thankful for many things. I take things for granted. But then I began to realize something for which I am and will be thankful for – forever.

A few weeks ago my husband had to be out of town for work for several days. This is a somewhat rare occurrence, fortunately. We were planning to drive to Atlanta the next weekend, to visit my father and celebrate the birthday of our daughters with him. My husband wouldn’t be home to join us for the drive down, which would leave all of the logistics of that up to me. For the four days leading up to the trip, I was the only parent in the house where I’m outnumbered three-to-one, and the oldest of those is five. I was beat. Overwhelmed. Exhausted to the bone. I needed my husband’s help, and it wasn’t there, and I was struggling. I needed to pray, and I did – saying the same desperate prayer I’ve prayed many times before when the circumstances of my day felt impossible. “Jesus, please help! I can’t do this without you!  Please walk by my side today and get me through this.”

Well, we got through the week. The visit with my Dad was good. My husband joined us shortly after we arrived. It all worked out. The next week started and I moved on. If not for the question about thankfulness, I would not have realized what a precious thing had just happened. Jesus came to help me.

“Jesus cares about the details of my household. Jesus cares about the details of your household.”

Hebrews 13:8 tells us that Jesus Christ is the same yesterday and today and forever.  In the book of John we see who Jesus really is, as He begins His ministry and performs His first miracles. At a wedding in Cana, Jesus feels for the family whose embarrassment is imminent because they are about to run out of wine to serve their guests. He miraculously turned an abundance of water into fine wine. We don’t know if the host ever really knew what Jesus did, but the servants of the house did. Jesus allowed them to see and graciously offered them a chance to believe. A few chapters later, while again in Cana, Jesus heals the son of a royal official. Although Jesus didn’t perform the healing the way the official thought was necessary – by physically going with him to the house where the sick child was – Jesus did heal the boy and arranged the circumstances so that the official knew for certain that the healing occurred because of Jesus. The official then shared this truth with his household, and they believed. Jesus cared about the details of the circumstances of these households, from life-threatening illness to social distress. Jesus cares about the details of my household. Jesus cares about the details of your household.

Jesus does not change. He is willing to help. We just have to ask. Like the royal official, it may not look like what we think is necessary to get it done. When I prayed, my husband’s work schedule didn’t change so that he could be at home with us that week. But instead, I had a peaceful steadiness which enabled me to do what needed to be done. I have had this same experience many times. When I ask Jesus to come and help me, I have always found Him to be willing and able to do so. 

So this year, I can say that for this I am thankful, and I will be thankful forever into eternity with Jesus as my Savior. I can count on Him. He cares about what happens in the circumstances of households, and the households where I will be spending the holidays will be filled with people who don’t yet know Him personally. Places where a miracle is needed. I can ask Him to give them the opportunity to believe, just as He did in Cana. I can teach my own children the truth about His nature, and they too can hold onto it and I pray be saved by it.

Where is your heart leaning now, as the holidays draw near?  Are you joyful or overwhelmed? Dreading?  Disappointed? Take courage and know that Jesus is always ready to enter into your circumstances and be there with you, day by day. He will never change, and He has the power to move on your behalf, for the glory of His wonderful name.

-Kathy Usher, Powdersville