Thanksgiving III ~

8-14 May:  This week I've been thankful for a relatively calm night with my furry little friend - he is always pretty good in D.D.'s away nights; thankful, too, for this day to appreciate the mothers among us - it's not an easy road, but well worth all the effort; and thankful for the words of Proverbs 31:26-29 - especially applying them to all the mothers in this family: "Her mouth is full of wisdom; kindly teaching is on her tongue. She is vigilant over the activities of her household; she doesn’t eat the food of laziness. Her children bless her; her husband praises her: 'Many women act competently, but you surpass them all!'” (CEB); thankful for being able to receive the phone call from my overseas son Sunday - too often the connection is missed; thankful for all the Mothers' Day greetings, it WAS a wonderful day! and I'm thankful for these words - with Joshua representing us all - from Zechariah 3:3,4: "Now Joshua was dressed with filthy clothes as he stood before the Angel. So the Angel of the Lord spoke to those standing before Him, 'Take off his filthy clothes!' Then He said to him, 'See, I have removed your guilt from you, and I will clothe you with splendid robes'”(HCSB); thankful for strength to walk to the clinic for a visit with my care provider Monday (and to return to my residence) - longest excursion since coming to Cottonwood; thankful that the rain didn't begin until after I was back home; and thankful for this message from Revelation 3:5,6: "The one who conquers will be clothed thus in white garments, and I will never blot his name out of the book of life. I will confess his name before my Father and before His angels. He who has an ear, let him hear. . . ." (ESV); thankful to see the gorgeous red lilac blooming on the far edge of our property (with the deep pink blossoms of the hawthorne tree that's growing back of the house) - such beauty around us! I'm thankful, too, for the bounteous provision of all I need in these sunset years of my life; and for this counsel from Ephesians 4:32: "Be kind, compassionate, and forgiving to each other, in the same way God forgave you in Christ" (CEB); for the beautiful bouquet I received  from my overseas son - in celebration of Mothers' Day; thankful for the gift of all my children and the love with which they've filled my life; and thankful for the message found in the MESSAGE Bible - 1 Chronicles 16:8-12: "Thank God! Call out His Name! Tell the whole world who He is and what He’s done! Sing to Him! Play songs for Him! Broadcast all His wonders! Revel in His holy Name, God-seekers, be jubilant! Study God and His strength, seek His presence day and night. . . ."; for all the fresh produce D.D. brought home Thursday evening; for the recipes I am still gleaning from magazines - like to try the new ideas; and thankful for the message -should be often repeated - found in Proverbs 31:30: " Charm and grace are deceptive, and [superficial] beauty is vain, but a woman who fears the Lord [reverently worshiping, obeying, serving, and trusting Him with awe-filled respect], she shall be praised" (AMP); for another weekly celebration of our Creator's Sabbath - what a blessing, this God-directed day of rest from the hum of busy-ness to rest in Him! I'm thankful, too, for the little bouquet of lavender and red lilacs and a red peony from our yard  D.D. brought me last evening - so fragrant; and for these words from Psalm 139:13,14: "You are the one who put me together inside my mother’s body, and I praise You because of the wonderful way You created me. Everything You do is marvelous! Of this I have no doubt" (CEV).