Acts 24:3, in every way and everywhere we accept this with all gratitude.

The house was quiet. Too quiet, so I turned on the worship music and played it loud enough to vibrate off the walls. My husband had taken the little ones to church while I lagged behind to prepare a nearly twenty pound turkey for its slow buttery bath.

I cleaned, scrubbed, chopped, diced, and puttered about to ready my home for a festive gathering. As I moved about, I sang along to the music letting the rhythms and melodies minister to my soul.

In a moment of creativity, I sat down at my desk to write. Nothing inspirational nor life changing, but a menu to put in a frame and place centre stage on the buffet table in the dining room. With the twist of my hand, pretty cursive letters appeared upon the rustic craft paper detailing each delectable and savoury dish. It was then I heard The Lord speaking as I was focused on the page.

Gratitude is not a state of mind, but a state a being.

Sure, I could have looked upon my list- another list- and offered up a prayer of thanksgiving for everything He has provided. But my wayward heart struggled to do so . My wayward heart felt compelled to offer up different words- difficult words- in lieu of a prayer that I have most likely offered up a hundred times before.

I paused my black inky marker mid-air and closed my eyes. And I prayed. Not a prayer of thanksgiving, but a prayer of repentance for all the things I take for granted.

Healthy food to eat, fresh water to drink. Shelter and warmth and love. The voice that I have been given, the freedoms I enjoy every moment. And the knowing that life is just that- life- and everything I have could be stripped from me tomorrow. What I have does not change who God is.

These were the words I lifted before the throne of God with a repentant heart. These were the words I pondered all day long. These were the words that changed my state of being this day. These were the words that gave me greater clarity into what made the heart of Jesus beat. And these were the words that I hope will keep my heart beating tomorrow.

Father, may we know that the only thing that lasts forever… is you. Amen.

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