Regular-old weekend thankfulness

                                      Food for regular-old weekend thankfulness--

        Thank You, Lord, for Your relentless goodness and Your countless gifts in our lives.  Thank You for Labor Day weekend and for time off the grid of busyness and schedules.  Thank You for the gift of labor.  Thank You for the rain that we needed so badly...and thank You for the astounding clarity of the sky, refreshing temperatures, and verdant beauty of the world after the storm passed.  Thank You for Sunday worship, quietness, and rest.  Thank You for friends who are enjoying the majesty of Your mountains and for those savoring the power yet peacefulness of Your ocean.
          And thank You for the simple but oh so wonderful gift of watching football with family while sharing delicious food--like Casa Carbone's spaghetti and their spinach calzone.  Yum!  Or Mt. Airy chocolate souflee cake (or chocolate anything).

       Thank You for first days of school...for courage when we face new and unknown things and for strength when we feel weak and small.

     Thank You for the astounding beauty of the ordinary--from butterflies to clouds to blue skies.  Forgive us when their regularity blinds us to their wonder.

       Thank You for eyes to see...for tastebuds to taste...for tears to cry...for mouths to smile...for arms to hug...for voices to sing.  Might we trace every gift, every sweet moment, every ordinary but extraordinary thing in our lives straight to You, the Giver of all good gifts.  Don't let us miss them.  Don't let us miss thanking You and giving You glory.
        In the words of Tim Keller: “Lord, when I see a ray of brilliant light, my eye naturally runs up the shaft to see its source.  Why don’t I do that with the mountains and the sea and the other wonders of your natural world?  Give me the habit of mind that uses all good things as ways to understand and enjoy you more.”
        To God be the glory.