True fact – I have a tough time giving thanks during Thanksgiving and Christmas season.
I get a sense I’m not alone in this – particularly in this unprecedented year of 2020, with all the loss and isolation and divisions that have marked the year .
I know if you and I look at our circumstances, most particularly, the new holiday restrictions, lock-downs, stay-at-home orders, pandemic fears, family worries and losses, our natural responses probably tend to be far from thankful.
Given my mindset – I’m choosing thanks giving this year. I’m not making a science driven, statistical analysis of the naughty and nice parts of 2020. I’m going with a grace centered, God’s truth as best as I know it, and I’m just plain choosing to give thanks.
On this note, it seems appropriate to begin in song.
I searched and searched to find one song that would speak to my heart in truth – and could encompass the sorrows along with the conviction of why my heart can sing.
Here it is – “The Joy of the Lord is My Strength” with Rend Collective (verses 1,3, 4).
“Though tears may fall
My song will rise, my song will rise to You
Though my heart may fail
My song will rise, my song will rise to You.”
Though tears may fall….
Tears have fallen for my family, particularly this past 8 weeks since my dear 31 year old son-in-law was diagnosed with malignant pancreatic cancer (update following post for those interested).
I’m guessing, you, too, have shed tears this past year – maybe even for many years. Part of my own story involves health issues the past ten plus years, which have altered my holidays and caused me to shed tears for losses – some big, such as not traveling to be with family, some small, such as no longer enjoying a 10 foot fresh cut Christmas tree and all the sparkling little white lights that lit up our tree and our home. We all have a story, we all have unmet expectations and just plain irreplaceable losses.
That being said, giving thanks doesn’t always come easily during this season; it may require purposeful effort.
My song will rise…..
Isn’t that the challenge? Not looking at what’s missing – or what could be – but living thank filled plop dab in the middle of Here & Now.
I’m naming it ‘no-matter-what-thanks’. Stormie O’Martian, my favorite prayer warrior, calls it ‘The Prayer That Changes Everything’.
I believe this is God’s chosen conduit – His secret for life producing joy – thanks giving. Not the place where we expect it – we look for perfect circumstances and lives dotted with picture perfect Instagram moments, yet God meets us in the strange place of no matter what thanks – which He names ‘a sacrifice of praise’.
“Therefore, let us offer up the sacrifice of praise, that is the fruit of our lips giving thanks to His name.” – Hebrews 13:15
The sacrifice is recognizing the Lord is my strength and song – not my circumstances, not my family, not my health. But, the Lord, Himself, is my strength and my song.
“While there’s hope in my heart
I will praise You, Lord.
The joy of the Lord is my strength
The joy of the Lord is my strength
In the darkness I’ll dance
In the shadows I’ll sing
The joy of the Lord is my strength.”
The joy of the Lord is my strength…..
When I choose to sing over and give thanks in the shadows in my life – I find joy in this unexpected place.
It’s called a sacrifice, as well as an offering. We offer ourselves – in our as is places – our hard places – our unwanted places – and right there – in that unlikeliest of place – we give thanks.
In this way, our song will rise. We choose it. We offer it freely to the Giver of all. Thanks is our expression of faith – seeing God in the midst of our circumstances – no matter what – His goodness is with us even there.
“When I cannot see You with my eyes
Let faith arise to You
When I cannot feel Your hand in mine
Let faith arise to You
God of mercy and love
I will praise You, Lord.”
Let faith arise….
My faith arises as I proclaim who the Lord is for me.
As I choose to look and sing of the Lord’s goodness something changes – my faith is activated – and God’s power in me is released to bring His goodness to me – His joy and peace. His strength becomes my strength, His joy becomes my joy.
So, that’s the choice I’m making this holiday season. The believing kind of thanks. The trusting kind of thanks. The no-matter-what thanks. My faith will arise. My song will arise, to You, Lord.
“…for the Lord, the Lord Himself, is my strength and my song;
He has become my salvation.” – Isaiah 12:2b
May the Lord become Your song this day and every day this season.
**An update. My son-in-law, Sean, is battling malignant pancreatic cancer. He’s receiving the best of care and has completed his first month of chemo. Join us in prayer for a shrinking of the tumor and spread, which would allow Sean to go forward with a surgery (currently considered ‘inoperable’) to remove and repair the area – this is the miracle we are seeking. Pray for life and peace through it all. Much thanks!
Credit to: You Tube for Rend Collective song and to Unsplash Olesua Buyar for ornament pic.
