Give Thanks with a Grateful Heart

 

 

Give Thanks with a Grateful Heart

Hurray! Another Thanksgiving holiday is here! I am grateful to God for the privilege of salvation, to be able to call Him my Father is priceless to me. To have His Holy Spirit living in me, accompanying me on my journey is the icing on the cake!

I thank God for life! Much more than ever, I appreciate the value of being numbered among the living. I thank God for family and friends kept by the mighty hand of God. God has preserved us through these tough months of the pandemic. He healed our bodies when we were sick. He gave us peace that calmed our fears. He strengthened our hearts and gave us grace to deal with any losses we may have experienced. He put food on our tables and some more in our pantries. He kept a  roof over our heads! 

                 

As you celebrate thanksgiving with your family, let your heart align with your words. Ruminate on the goodness of God. Sing and make melody in your heart to the Lord. The psalmist said:

That my soul may sing praise to You and not be silent.

O Lord my God, I will give thanks to You forever (Psalm 30:12).

 

I See Men as Trees

 "As for you, be fruitful and increase in number; multiply on the earth

 and increase upon it." - Genesis 9:7

Father's Day was fast approaching, and this year I decided to switch things up a bit. Some days ago I asked my son if he had any thoughts on fathers. These are the thoughts he shared:

Fathers are like Trees

All life is predicated on the responsibility of fatherhood

Being the base unit of exponential growth, fathers hold the key to life

Fathers are creators. God The Father created. 

He created a man and gave to him the ability to create. 

To invest in their kin and nurture, till they too, begin to bear fruit after their own kind.

Abraham was that kind of father, a father after God's own heart

For God said, (and with all certainty too), "I know that he will command his children,

And his household after him, to keep the way of the Lord"

Oh what a divine cycle of creation initiated by the Almighty Father, 

A father enabled by The Father plants seeds in his garden

He does the watering, and the much needed nurturing

But it is God that gives the increase

What the world sees is a well watered garden

Filled with herbs. flowers and trees. fruits that hold seeds, ready to bear again.

Jesus healed the blind man and asked him, "What do you see?"

"I see men as trees," said he. And he lied not.

He is like a tree planted by streams of water that yields its fruit in its season, and its leaf does not wither. In all that he does, he prospers. - Psalm 1:3

Happy Father's Day to my amazing dad and father figures everywhere!

 

Nothing Like a Mothers' Love

 

 

There is no earthly love like my mother’s love, No tender touch like her caring hands

9 months, 39 weeks, 274 days, 6,750 hours, we huddled together, 

With love so divine, we weathered the storm

While the world moved on,we formed our bond, belly to belly, we kept in touch!

My entrance to the world was spectacular!

You had pain, almost unbearable to the point of hallucinations

Yet, you bore your pain with grace, you set yourself apace and helped me along the way

With joy unspeakable, and a heart of gratitude, you  received the one you’ve loved and nurtured.

I heard you whisper my name so soft, so sweet, as you held me in your arms, 

Often you would say “Chukwunoyenim, you are mine, the Lord gave you to me!”

Through many long nights you stayed by my side, you fed my hunger, you soothed my pain

When I heard thunder claps and I was afraid, I was sure of this; in your bosom  I could hide.

It’s no surprise that as I grew, I also knew,  in my mother I can always confide

You do many  things for me Mom, you do many things! 

I have learned “sacrifice” just by watching you.

But there’s one thing you do that stands above all else,

I hear you  call out my name to the Lord in prayer, covering me in all my ways

That, my Mom is the ultimate security! That I cherish more than you’ll ever know!

"Her children arise and call her blessed; her husband also, 

and he praises her" (Proverbs 31:28).

Happy Mother’s Day!