Giving Thanks

Philippians 4:6-7 – Do not be anxious about anything, but in everything, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests to God. And the peace of God, which transcends all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus.
Colossians 3:17 – And whatever you do, whether in word or deed, do it all in the name of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks to God the Father through him.

Recently during the severe ice storm in Montreal, my daughter was in one of the places hardest hit. She was in her apartment without heat or light for many days. I could think of little else. My imagination pictured her in her cold rooms, trying to heat enough water for a cup of coffee over a makeshift arrangement with fondue fuel, with an icicle hanging off the water tap. "Oh dear God," I prayed one night, "Please help her get some heat somehow, so she can be warm." I pictured her drowsy from hypothermia, or feverish with pneumonia. I was calling her every day, and frustrated at not being able to do a thing to help the situation.

The day after I had made my tearful prayer, she called me. "Hi, Ma! guess what? Our landlord has managed to connect to a generator across the back fence, enough to get us some heat!" I was so relieved, I think I whooped. Life is good! And what a clever landlord, and how lucky, etc., etc. About an hour later, I was still marvelling at the thought that she at least had some heat, when a certain thought struck me. The night before, I was in tears as I prayed so desperately. And now a few hours later, I had an answer to prayer, and it hadn't even occurred to me. Now that I think of it, this has happened more times than I care to admit. Anyone else out there like me?

Prayer: Dear God, open our eyes that we may see the evidence of your grace in answering our prayers and relieving our distress. Thanks be to you for your mercy and goodness to all your undeserving and ungrateful followers, among whom I am, if not chief, a close runner-up. Amen.

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