“Give thanks in every circumstance, for this is God’s will for you in Christ Jesus.” (1Thessalonians 5:18 BSB)
Heavenly Father, I am thankful for
Your unconditional love for me,
The gift of eternal salvation through Jesus Christ, Your Son, my Lord,
The gift of the Holy Spirit, my Counselor, Guide, and Comforter,
Your Word that is the lamp unto my feet and a light unto my path,
And, the Church, the body of Christ, my Christian brothers and sisters.
Thank You, Lord, for
Parents who, by word and by example, taught me Your ways,
A dad who took the time to be with me, teach me to fish, throw a ball, and ride a bike,
A mom who took time to listen, understand, and patch my “owies,”
My siblings with whom I share so many memories, and
My parent’s back yard where most of those memories were made.
I give thanks to You, Lord, for
My wife, Your wise and wonderful gift to me,
My children, the wonderful gifts You used to help make me wise,
The homes You so graciously provided for us,
The laughter, love, and learning we shared together through the years,
And the back yards where my children made most of their memories.
Heavenly Father, thank You for
The simple pleasures in life that remind me that You care,
The hard times that keep me dependent on you,
The times of plenty that gave me opportunities to share,
The times of poverty that gave me opportunities to trust,
And for walking with me through both the easy and hard times.
Lord, for all these things,
Thank you.
Your son,
Paul
© Paul R Downing