"Praise God, from whom all Blessings Flow . . . "

Giving thanks to my Father God for some of the blessings I have noticed this week.

1. My husband had a safe trip home from the Philippines, and landed on American soil Sunday in Detroit. After a slight delay, he arrived home later that day. While I'm glad to support him in this work that helps so many, I'm always glad when he arrives back home, and I give thanks to God for that blessing once again.

2. Since I've had some health issues in recent years, my husband has insisted on house help for some of the more difficult chores associated with housekeeping. I was able to hire a very nice woman, a Christian, with whom I've become friends and who has helped me immensely with floors, bathrooms, and other things around here that would have overwhelmed me. I was especially thankful to have her come this week and last week while I've been sick, and she has helped me so much throughout this period of sickness. I still have a lot of clutter to clear away, but everything's clean! And I'm thankful and appreciate her so much.

3. Last week I got notes from two friends in different states, and these notes were BIG lifter-uppers to me. I was thankful for the notes, and am even more thankful for these two friends!

4. More insights from Philip Yancey in his book Grace Notes. I have, and continue to, really enjoy this book.

5. A towboat hit a pillar helping to hold up the northbound lanes of one of the twin bridges last week, shortly before I was planning to cross over the Ohio River into Indiana. I heard the warning of "severe damage" before I left, and changed my plans. Later, the warning was changed to reflect "cosmetic" damage only, and I was able to attend to my Indiana chores later in the week. I'm thankful no permanent damage was done to that heavily traveled bridge.

6. I'm thankful for antibiotics, particularly the antibiotic that the doctor put me on last week. It's starting to make a difference, and I'm feeling some better (although a bit subdued from the antibiotics themselves, as I always do). When I finish this round, I'm hoping and praying to feel better.

7. I had ordered some Honeybell oranges through an offer on QVC, and they arrived this week. They were delicious, and I ate enough of them to know!

For all of these things, and many more, I am truly thankful. I am thankful, too, for my daughter's example, which I started following in listing some of the things I'm thankful for from the previous weeks. Philip Yancy, in his book Grace Notes, had this paragraph: "In the Beatitudes, Jesus honored people who may not enjoy many privileges in this life. To the poor, the mourners, the meek, the hungry, the persecuted, the poor in heart, he offered assurance that their service would not go unrecognized. They would receive ample reward. Wrote C. S. Lewis, "We are half-hearted creature, fooling about with drink and sex and ambition when infinite joy is offered us, like an ignorant child who wants to go on making mud pies in a slum because he cannot imagine what is meant by the offer of a holiday at the sea."

Writing down a few of my blessings helps me to focus on the "better things" which God has given.
Grace and Peace,
Elaine