Gratitude

There is nothing for which I am ungrateful. How can I write that? It seems unnatural. In a world where I have experienced loss, pain, change, and even malice, how can a man write that? I remember years ago when my grandmother’s joy shone through all she did. Now, she was exactly four feet tall, walked with some struggle, and had a shoulder that gave her trouble. Every time I entered her home, she insisted on taking the heavy cast iron skillet, using her “grabber.” as she called it, to reach things in her cabinet, and cooking something for me to eat. As she cooked, I repeatedly offered to help, seeing her physical struggle, but she refused, saying, “Son, I’m fine, I’d rather wear out than rust out.” This was her way of expressing love, insisting on doing it herself, and continuing to remain mobile. I experienced love and joy.

Once I broke the heart of my grandmother, “Memaw.” I don’t remember how old I was or what I did. I do remember the tears in her eyes as she said those infamous words, “This is going to hurt me worse than it’s going to hurt you.” Her face showed that to be true. I learned more about love and compassion that day. It hurt my heart, but it crushed hers.

When I was majoring in music in college, Memaw’s church needed a part-time person to lead their worship. I believe it was my grandfather, “Pepaw,” who called me and asked if I was interested. The church was around a thirty-minute drive from campus, where I lived. This was the church in which my dad and his family grew up. I had aunts, uncles, and cousins in the church. They hired me. What they actually did was teach me. They tolerated a lot of immaturity and inconsistency. Although there were a lot of family members in Paden Baptist Church, many other East Gadsden residents were members, as well. They became family to me. They, like my grandmother, exhibited joy and love, expressed in their allowing a young man to learn sincerity, love, and leadership. I met and married my college sweetheart while at that church. Although I made many mistakes there…a whole lot of mistakes, but I am grateful. They helped shape and mature me. Surprisingly, despite the plethora of mishaps, the people still loved me…they loved us. My wife and I loved them so much we moved from campus to a little house with crooked floors and drafty rooms to minister among them and grow with them. I drove to campus every day.

I am not ungrateful for anything in life. Though people like Memaw, Pepaw, aunts, uncles, churches, mistakes, friends who became family members, and other people and circumstances, I experienced the way of grace, mercy, and love…the way of the Lord.

The Apostle Paul summarizes love in this manner:

“If I speak in the tongues of men and of angels, but have not love, I am a noisy gong or a clanging cymbal. And if I have prophetic powers, and understand all mysteries and all knowledge, and if I have all faith, so as to remove mountains, but have not love, I am nothing. If I give away all I have, and if I deliver up my body to be burned,^[a] but have not love, I gain nothing. Love is patient and kind; love does not envy or boast; it is not arrogant or rude. It does not insist on its own way; it is not irritable or resentful; it does not rejoice at wrongdoing, but rejoices with the truth. Love bears all things, believes all things, hopes all things, endures all things. Love never ends…So now faith, hope, and love abide, these three; but the greatest of these is love” (1 Corinthians 13:1-8a; 13, ESV).

Over 2000 years ago, Love was exemplified in a manner we can never fully understand. He chose to endure rejection, tolerating our hatred, rebellion, and sin. He did this with the full expectation of physical, emotional, and even spiritual pain as he took our sins upon Himself. No matter the cost, there is nothing He regrets. He had a higher purpose than His own comfort. His view was not on the present, earthly problems He experienced, but was on the eternal, saving deliverance He provided for us. Jesus had his eyes on eternity. He is Love.

Despite any toil and trials, we experience on this earth, we must keep our eyes on what is everlasting. Allowing the temporary discomforts, life lessons, pains, losses, and other hinderances to mar our understanding of God’s love and provision only hinders our ability to love and lead others toward the Savior who died for the sins of the world. God uses the good and the bad to teach and shape us. He uses our mistakes and the ensuing corrective actions to mold us. He loves us enough to be a good Father like that.

Friends, be grateful for how God has shaped you, allowing people and circumstances to mold you into becoming more like Him. At this time of Resurrection, remember the eternal life instead of focusing on the woes of the temporary life. He came to give us abundant life. Enjoy it. Live for Him, loving and leading others toward him. He loves you. He proved it. Let’s live as those who know it.

Get new content delivered directly to your inbox.

Help your church move their guests to become family!