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Psalm 40:3 – He put a new song in my mouth, a hymn of praise to our God. Many will see and fear and put their trust in the Lord.

Dear Heavenly Father, each day I praise you and give thanks for all your mercies. But today, suddenly a spirit has come over me that wants to say thanks to you in ways not often done before. Thanks for gifts I have not often acknowledged.

From you has come the gift of choice. And you alone know how often that gift has been abused. Decisions were made; poor results followed; and who did I blame? Those whom I thought had given the poor advice. Sharing the blame were those who paid my wages; they were never 'big' enough. I blamed the vague imaginations that were misread and misunderstood. I blamed fate that was deemed to be uncontrollable.

I did not blame myself for not talking with others about what mattered. I could do it myself; I could decide not only for me but for them. I could simply walk away, sulk, be miserable, hoping to just get over it. And it was then, I see now, that, amid all the celebration, I walked away in silence.

And again you came with a further gift. This was the precious ointment of your presence. You didn't abandon me. Alone, yet not alone, for you supplied other choices, choices to which there was a newness.

And so today there is a song in my heart. Remembrances of foolishness, pride, envy and even greed, are all ashes now, I hope, but the new song needs to be sung: a song that is ageless, a song that revives the soul, a song that gives thanks for not being abandoned, for having been given a choice again and again.

Thanks again, Lord, for choice, and having chosen us in Him who is our light and our salvation, even Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.