I recently ran across this anagram by an unknow author. It caught my attention, so I share it with you.
Althougth things are not perfect,
Because of trial and pain,
Continue in Thanksgiving-
Do not begin to blame.
Even when the times are hard-
Fierce winds are still bound to blow-
God is forever able to help you,
Hold on to what you know.
Imagine life without his love,
Joy would cease to be,
Keep thanking him for all the things
Love imparts to thee.
Move out of "camp complaining",
No weapon that is known,
On earth can yield the power that
Praise can do alone.
Quit waiting for the future,
Redeem the time at hand.
Start every day with worship,
To give thanks is a command.
Until we see His coming,
Victorious in the sky,
We'll run the race with gratitude,
Xalting God most high.
Yes, there will be good times and yes,
some will be bad,but....
Zion waits in glory - where none are ever sad.
As Thanksgiving approaches, I look back at the years past. There have been both good and bad times, both joy and sorrow. Throughout it all, I have found, as the anagram reminds me, that when I focus on thanking and praising God in all circumstances of my life, I rise above the difficulties and see the joy. I have found this especially true during the most trying times of my life, such as the death of my Dad a few years ago. When we stop and look for the gifts God gives us each day, when we take the time to give thanks and praise, God will see us through even the most difficult times. The more we give God thanks, the more things we will see to be thankful for. Thankfulness leads to greater thankfulness. Let us practice these thoughts this Thanksgiving season.
Pastor Diann O'Bryant is the minister of Gilman United Methodist Church, 312 Gilman St., Marietta. Thoughts of Faith is a weekly column written by various ministers and lay people. Those interested in scheduling a date for writing a Thoughts of Faith column should contact Christy Hudson at 376-5446 or chudson@mariettatimes.com. Or, if a Thoughts of Faith column is written at the writer's convenience and sent to The Times, it will run the first available date.
