Thanksgiving 2022

As you sit down today at your table and give thanks, I offer up this quote by Henri Nouwen followed by a prayer.

“To be grateful for the good things that happen in our lives is easy, but to be grateful for all of our lives—the good as well as the bad, the moments of joy as well as the moments of sorrow, the successes as well as the failures, the rewards as well as the rejections—that requires hard spiritual work.

Still, we are only truly grateful people when we can say “thank you” to all that has brought us to the present moment.

As long as we keep dividing our lives between events and people we would like to remember and those we would rather forget, we cannot claim the fullness of our beings as a gift of God to be grateful for.

Let’s not be afraid to look at everything that has brought us to where we are now and trust that we will soon see in it the guiding hand of a loving God.”
Henri Nouwen

Dear Heavenly Father,

Our hearts are full of thanks for all You have done for us: Your bountiful provision, Your endless grace, Your daily mercies, Your unfailing love and unlimited faithfulness. Thank You for who You are; our Savior, Redeemer, Refuge, Comforter, Provider, Protector, and Friend.

As we recall with gratitude today, we remember those we loved that are not here with us. Thank You for their life, their love, and their legacy. Truly, we are grateful, yet grieving as we pause to give thanks to You, the Almighty God who collects our tears and walks with us through the valley of the shadow. 

Let us know in the deepest crevices of our soul Your sustaining presence, peace as we hold tight to Your promises that You are with us.

In the Mighty Name of Jesus, Amen.

"Grateful Yet Grieving"

FREE ebook by Pam Luschei | Click HERE To Download

His Banner Over Me is Love

By Nancy Garcia

Don’t you love clouds? You always see shapes in clouds, and it’s fun to figure out what they look like. I photographed the clouds in the above photo on February 15, 2019. I was at work looking out my office window on a slightly overcast day. I couldn’t believe what I was seeing. Who would believe it?! I quickly scrambled to grab my cell phone, hoping to capture this unusual sight before it disappeared. There was no mistaking the cloud, which looked like a giant heart.

Earlier in the month, on the morning of February 4 (our shared birthday), my husband wasn’t feeling quite right and asked me to take him to the ER. I drove him to the hospital, and he was admitted. After running tests and having an angiogram procedure, we were told he was going to need heart bypass surgery. It was not such a great birthday present. The nursing staff kindly blessed him with a balloon and a cupcake.

The doctors wanted to schedule surgery right away, but my husband wanted to get some things in order first. After recuperating from the angiogram, we left the hospital three days later. It was just a week and a half later that I shot the photo. The scripture that came to mind was “…and his banner over me was love.” Song of Solomon 2:4 (ESV). I thought to myself, we’re going to get through this.

We finally met with the surgeon, and as he examined him, he thought he had heard something. As a precaution, the doctor wanted him to see his cardiologist before he could schedule surgery. Our appointment was on June 28. We were up early getting ready when I found him unresponsive on the couch. I called 911 and, by helicopter, was airlifted to the hospital. He stayed with us until that evening.

It’s approaching the fourth anniversary this coming June. Looking back, I see all that has been accomplished since that day: a memorial service, an estate sale, house improvements in preparation for it to be sold, and countless other small miracles—God’s grace and mercy ever-present. My family and friends went above & beyond praying, supporting, and giving of themselves to help me. I will be forever grateful.

I had the photo of the heart-shaped cloud made into a canvas print, which I look at every day. I didn’t realize its significance or what a gift it really was until after my husband passed away.

God knew what was coming long before I ever did. He literally “showed” me that He is always with me, loving, watching, protecting, and preparing my heart for things I can’t see. A reminder to always trust Him for all things. I am not alone, for He is with me. We are each uniquely special to Him, and He supplies us with all we need when we need it.

Isaiah 41:10 “…fear not, for I am with you; be not dismayed, for I am your God; I will strengthen you, I will help you, I will uphold you with my righteous right hand.”

"Grateful Yet Grieving"

FREE ebook by Pam Luschei | Click HERE To Download