Tears streaming down my face threatened to blur my vision as I made the long drive home. I had just spent the day with my college freshman. We ran errands and topped it off with lunch. Our time was replete with laughs, insightful musings and spilling the tea which I’m sure was censored to make it palatable for mom to digest.
As the tears continued to flow, I began singing these words by Hezekiah Walker,
“I am
Grateful for the things
That you have done
Yes, I’m grateful for the victories you’ve won
I could go on and on and on
About your works
Because I’m grateful, grateful, so grateful
Just to praise you Lord
Flowing from my heart
Are the issues of my heart
It’s Gratefulness”
You see, when I was a freshman in college I did not have a chance to run errands with my mom.
I did not have a chance to have lunch with my mom.
I did not have a chance to spill the tea on all that was going on with my friends and me.
Because early into my freshman year in college a pulmonary embolism snatched my mother from me.
As I sat across from my girl at lunch, staring into her face as she regaled me with stories, all I could think was THANK YOU JESUS!
Thank you God for redeeming the time.
Thank you God for restoring my heart.
Thank you God for choosing me to be a mom.
Thank you God for your faithfulness.
Gratefulness, flowing from my heart.
My mother was ripped from my life at a very tender age. But God has bought me full circle. He has given me beauty for ashes, joy for pain and a garment of praise for a spirit of heaviness.
No matter what you feel you’ve been robbed of.
No matter what you feel you’ve been denied.
No matter what you feel has been stolen from you.
Remember that God is a restorer and a redeemer who gives FULL recompense.
So today give thanks. Tell God how grateful you are. Have gratitude for the victories as well as for the hardships. Studies have shown that gratitude reduces stress, reduces depression and increases resilience among other things so have an attitude of gratitude and be grateful.
Give thanks to the Lord, for he is good, for his steadfast love endures forever. Psalm 136:1
Flowing from my heart are the issues of my heart. It’s Gratefulness!
As always, it is my prayer that you’ve been Inspired To Live Fully!
