Previous Challenge Entry (Level 3 - Advanced)
Topic: Thanksgiving (04/18/05)
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TITLE: Sacrifices of Praise | Previous Challenge Entry
By Antje Hill
04/24/05 -
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I hid my saddened heart with small talk as we made the trip back to Mom’s and Dad’s place. It was early afternoon when I dropped them off at home, then turned toward my home not far away. As I closed the door behind me, I couldn't hold back the tears. It was overwhelming to think that sometime in the future I would no longer have my parents with me.
I was brought back to reality as the phone rang loudly. “Mom,” my youngest son’s voice sounded a bit strained. “I need for you to pray for me today. I don’t know what’s wrong. I’m on my way to work, but I woke up so dizzy this morning. I know if you are praying, I’ll be alright.”
Panic struck. My son was 400 miles away. There was nothing tangible I could do. “Steve, promise you will see a doctor if you are not better in a few hours.”
“I trust your prayers, Mom. I will be o.k.” Hanging up, I knelt beside the sofa and prayed God would give Steve physical strength and protection in the traffic, that He would keep him alert and make him well.
The phone once again interrupted. “Sis, Ted and I are not going to make it. I’m not telling everyone, but I had to let you know. I’m leaving this afternoon on a work assignment in Atlanta. Ted is going to stay behind and take care of the house. Everyone can think I will be back, but right now, that’s not my plans.”
I had tried to fix the problems in my sister’s life. I knew her problems were not only marital. She and I had often spoken of our insecurities and lack of self esteem. Through many years of troubled days and night and many prayers on bended knees, I had finally come to the place of relinquishing “self” and giving God first place in my life. I had tried to help Vicki find this same source of strength and happiness. We both were crying as we hung up the phone. I walked outside to gain composure from the day’s hard truths.
The sun was setting over the tree tops, making a sky of brilliant oranges and pinks. Over my shoulder I could see the beautiful sunflowers my husband had planted for me. Callie, our kitten, rubbed against my leg, asking to be stroked. A couple of robins were fighting at the bird feeder. I stood for a moment soaking up the warm late summer sun, my thoughts turned again to the problems of the day. I thought about my limitations in each situation. Despair slowly crept in as I sat for an hour or more rehashing each situation. These problems crowded in with others that had dominated my thought life.
I walked over to the sunflowers, touching the pedals of the yellow and brown array. Then God so graciously placed in my heart a phrase from the bible, “a sacrifice of praise”. A prayer of thanksgiving now, when there was turmoil in my mind, would certainly be a sacrifice. Is that what God meant by that phrase? Ah, God was teaching me in the quiet of the afternoon. Certainly I knew God was perfectly capable of taking care of Steve, of growing my sister and He knew the perfect time to call my parents home. In His own gentle way He was reminding me that my only part is always to praise Him in all the details of my life. Suddenly I felt joy again in my heart as Philippians 4:6 came to my mind: “Be anxious for nothing, but in everything by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your request be made known to God.” (NASB)
It’s wonderful to know God understands our human side. It takes time for me to get to the “Thanksgiving” part of problems sometimes, but God is willing to work with me. For that I offer up prayers of thanksgiving.
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Good writing, too, by the way (grins)
Mary N