I don’t like it, but I’m Thankful

I was a runner. Not on a school track team or in marathons, but at home. During the time that I was young enough to get spankings or “woopings”, I always ran. My mom would literally have to solicit the help of my older brother and sister to catch me and drag me to her (to which I still occasionally remind them of their severe breech of the sibling code).

During the time that my mother was punishing me, many things crossed my mind. Thoughts like Wearing these shorts was not a good idea today, or Allyson and Jr (the traitors) better sleep with one eye open, or I wonder if the neighbors can hear me.

One thing that never crossed my mind was Thanks mom.

I never said thank you to her for telling me that I could not go to a party and stay out past curfew. When she did not buy me the shoes I wanted I never told her I appreciated it. When she took away my phone privileges, told me I could not drive to football games or have a boyfriend, thank you didn’t seem appropriate.

Now though, at the ripe old age of 33, I believe I owe her a few Thanks yous. I see that consequences, boundaries, standards and delays have taught me and shaped me. Those things that I thought were only breaking me were actually building me.

Today is Thanksgiving and some of you are broken. So giving thanks is not easy this year. Know that you are being built. Into what? Something stronger, wiser, and more useful for His service.

You don’t have to like it, just trust it. Better yet, trust Him. Trust that there is purpose for His consequences, boundaries, standards and delays.

Happy Thanksgiving (even in unhappy situations)

"Why art thou cast down, O my soul? and why art thou disquieted in me? hope thou in God: for I shall yet praise him for the help of his countenance." Psalm 42:5