It is that time of year where we, Americans, give thanks for our many blessings; but what if your heart is heavy and not full of gratitude right now? During the times that we are sad, lonely, depressed, angry, grieving, sick, or walking through the wilderness or desert is when it is most important to reach out to God and thank Him for what He has provided. It is also helpful to look back at a journal or other writings during happier times to remember times of joy, happiness, thanksgiving, answered prayers and other blessings. It helps us keep perspective and not allow our feelings and circumstances to overwhelm us or cloud our view.
Gratitude is easy when life is going well and we are happy with our circumstances. Gratitude becomes a choice when we are unhappy with our circumstances. "Should we accept only good things from the hand of God and never anything bad?" Job 2:10(NLV).
Job lost his possessions, his children, his wife, and finally his health. However, he refused to blame or curse God.
"I came naked from my mother's womb, and I will be stripped of everything when I die. The Lord gave me everything I had, and the Lord has taken it away. Praise the name of the Lord! In all of this, Job did not sin by blaming God." Job 1:21-22(NLV).
There is always something to be thankful for, even in the worst circumstances. I am thankful for answered prayers,family, friends, food, clothing, a home, a warm bed, a job, transportation, freedom to worship without fear, and freedom to write about Him.
I would love to hear what you are thankful for? What blessings, no matter how small, are you thankful? Writing what you are thankful for will help bring about a spirit of gratitude no matter your circumstances; because you will be focusing on God the source of all good gifts and not your current plight.
I pray you have a happy Thanksgiving. May God bless you and keep you and reveal to you His many blessings.
Today, I am participating in Bridget Chumbley's One Word Devotion on Gratitude. To see other devotions on Gratitude click here.
Tuesday, November 16, 2010
Wednesday, November 3, 2010
I Saw America by Rod Smith, Laurel, Mississippi
"I command you to love each other in the same way that I love you. And here is how to measure it--the greatest love is shown when people lay down their lives for their friends." John 15:12-13(NLV).
I am thankful I live in a county in which I can vote for those who govern, worship freely, raise my family how I choose, read what I want, watch what I want and freely speak my mind. Thank you to the past and present service men and women who have protected these freedoms for me. I hope you will take the time to read about a fallen American and Mississippian and about the heroes homecoming he received. See below:
I Saw America Today
By The Guru
Editor’s Note: The following piece was written by Rod Smith a Patriot Guard Rider. It arrived in my inbox this morning as an email and it deserves a bigger audience. It was written about the funeral of Sgt. Eric Newman held on Saturday, October 24, 2010. The funeral was held with full military honors, including a 21-gun salute. He was posthumously awarded not only the bronze star, but also the Purple Heart and several other medals for his exemplary service in the U.S. Army. Eric Newman, 30, was killed when a roadside bomb exploded Oct. 14 in Akatzai Kalay, Afghanistan. He married Charidy Newman last year, and was planning to become a state trooper after his career in the military was over. The introductory information I’ve included here came from the story about the funeral published by The Meridian Star.
________________________________________
I saw America today.
I was among more that 200 people gathered on the tarmac at the Meridian Air Navel Station to welcome Sgt. Eric C. Newman, 30, of Waynesboro , Miss. home from Afghanistan. He did not exit to cheers and hugs but was greeted by respectful silence. Military men and women, bikers, policemen, firemen, all in formation riveted their attention as Sgt. Newman disembarked from the plane carrying him.
He exited in a flag draped coffin, killed in action in Afghanistan.
The family stood near the hearse and as Sgt. Newman’s casket approached he was greeted by his new wife and his mother as they draped their arms around the casket where their beloved husband and son lay. There would be no married life for the newly married couple and another mother had given her son in the name of freedom.
I saw America today.
The procession formed with a police escort in front leading the hearse carrying Sgt. Newman which was followed by his family, more than 100 bikers, including the Patriot Guard Riders, scores of police officers, firemen, and friends. I rode near the front and I never could see the end of the procession as we rolled over the hills from Meridian to Waynesboro .
I saw America today.
On the 60 mile journey truckers, the big rigs, pulled to the side of the road, exited their trucks and put hand over heart in honor of Sgt. Newman and the American flag. Down the road from one big shiny rig was a humble logging truck, driver standing on the ground, hand over heart.
For sixty miles a mixture of people stood by the side of the road, flag in hand as we rolled past. At every junction where a side road entered there were people. At the overpasses there was always a fire truck displaying a large American flag. Every fire department along the way had their fire truck standing by to honor this young American who gave his life for us.
There was a young Boy Scout, in uniform, proudly saluting Sgt. Newman and the American flags that passed him.
A man in bib overalls stood by a ragged old pickup truck giving honor. Just down the road was a man dressed in suit and tie by his expensive SUV.
Something in the bright blue sky above caught my eye. It was two jet fighter planes flying over the procession, the thoughtful action of fellow soldiers.
I could see a woman kneeling, holding something out in her hands. At first I thought it must be a camera but as I passed I could clearly see it was a folded American flag. Just like the one that was given to my mother when my father died. Yes, it was her way of saying, “I lost a loved one as well.”
I saw America today.
As we left the main road and entered Waynesboro two fire trucks were parked in such a way as to form an arch with a giant American flag suspended between the two.
The streets were lined solid with people. No cars were moving. I observed someone in a wheel chair on the side of the road. When we drew closer I saw several in wheel chairs, some on crutches. They were old, and fragile. They were residents of a nursing home. On down the road there was another group from yet another nursing home, all waving tiny American flags.
As we wound our way through town hundreds of people lined the sides of the streets. We passed an elementary school. The children lined the fence three deep, most with flags, some with red, white, and blue balloons which were later released.
Next we passed the high school. Again the students respectfully lined the streets adjacent to the school. All were standing respectfully in honor of Sgt. Newman.
And did I mention the yellow ribbons? They were on trees, mailboxes, fences, and anywhere people could place them.
I saw America today.
When we had finished the escort all the bikers were asked to meet at the First Baptist Church of Waynesboro. There they gathered us up and escorted us to the Western Sizzlin ’ where the people of the town treated us to lunch for doing something of which we were proud to be a part.
Today, I saw America and I’m proud to be an American. God bless America.
Rod Smith, Patriot Guard Rider
October 21, 2010, Laurel, Mississippi
See also http://meridianstar.com/local/x154640441/A-hero-comes-home
I am thankful I live in a county in which I can vote for those who govern, worship freely, raise my family how I choose, read what I want, watch what I want and freely speak my mind. Thank you to the past and present service men and women who have protected these freedoms for me. I hope you will take the time to read about a fallen American and Mississippian and about the heroes homecoming he received. See below:
I Saw America Today
By The Guru
Editor’s Note: The following piece was written by Rod Smith a Patriot Guard Rider. It arrived in my inbox this morning as an email and it deserves a bigger audience. It was written about the funeral of Sgt. Eric Newman held on Saturday, October 24, 2010. The funeral was held with full military honors, including a 21-gun salute. He was posthumously awarded not only the bronze star, but also the Purple Heart and several other medals for his exemplary service in the U.S. Army. Eric Newman, 30, was killed when a roadside bomb exploded Oct. 14 in Akatzai Kalay, Afghanistan. He married Charidy Newman last year, and was planning to become a state trooper after his career in the military was over. The introductory information I’ve included here came from the story about the funeral published by The Meridian Star.
________________________________________
I saw America today.
I was among more that 200 people gathered on the tarmac at the Meridian Air Navel Station to welcome Sgt. Eric C. Newman, 30, of Waynesboro , Miss. home from Afghanistan. He did not exit to cheers and hugs but was greeted by respectful silence. Military men and women, bikers, policemen, firemen, all in formation riveted their attention as Sgt. Newman disembarked from the plane carrying him.
He exited in a flag draped coffin, killed in action in Afghanistan.
The family stood near the hearse and as Sgt. Newman’s casket approached he was greeted by his new wife and his mother as they draped their arms around the casket where their beloved husband and son lay. There would be no married life for the newly married couple and another mother had given her son in the name of freedom.
I saw America today.
The procession formed with a police escort in front leading the hearse carrying Sgt. Newman which was followed by his family, more than 100 bikers, including the Patriot Guard Riders, scores of police officers, firemen, and friends. I rode near the front and I never could see the end of the procession as we rolled over the hills from Meridian to Waynesboro .
I saw America today.
On the 60 mile journey truckers, the big rigs, pulled to the side of the road, exited their trucks and put hand over heart in honor of Sgt. Newman and the American flag. Down the road from one big shiny rig was a humble logging truck, driver standing on the ground, hand over heart.
For sixty miles a mixture of people stood by the side of the road, flag in hand as we rolled past. At every junction where a side road entered there were people. At the overpasses there was always a fire truck displaying a large American flag. Every fire department along the way had their fire truck standing by to honor this young American who gave his life for us.
There was a young Boy Scout, in uniform, proudly saluting Sgt. Newman and the American flags that passed him.
A man in bib overalls stood by a ragged old pickup truck giving honor. Just down the road was a man dressed in suit and tie by his expensive SUV.
Something in the bright blue sky above caught my eye. It was two jet fighter planes flying over the procession, the thoughtful action of fellow soldiers.
I could see a woman kneeling, holding something out in her hands. At first I thought it must be a camera but as I passed I could clearly see it was a folded American flag. Just like the one that was given to my mother when my father died. Yes, it was her way of saying, “I lost a loved one as well.”
I saw America today.
As we left the main road and entered Waynesboro two fire trucks were parked in such a way as to form an arch with a giant American flag suspended between the two.
The streets were lined solid with people. No cars were moving. I observed someone in a wheel chair on the side of the road. When we drew closer I saw several in wheel chairs, some on crutches. They were old, and fragile. They were residents of a nursing home. On down the road there was another group from yet another nursing home, all waving tiny American flags.
As we wound our way through town hundreds of people lined the sides of the streets. We passed an elementary school. The children lined the fence three deep, most with flags, some with red, white, and blue balloons which were later released.
Next we passed the high school. Again the students respectfully lined the streets adjacent to the school. All were standing respectfully in honor of Sgt. Newman.
And did I mention the yellow ribbons? They were on trees, mailboxes, fences, and anywhere people could place them.
I saw America today.
When we had finished the escort all the bikers were asked to meet at the First Baptist Church of Waynesboro. There they gathered us up and escorted us to the Western Sizzlin ’ where the people of the town treated us to lunch for doing something of which we were proud to be a part.
Today, I saw America and I’m proud to be an American. God bless America.
Rod Smith, Patriot Guard Rider
October 21, 2010, Laurel, Mississippi
See also http://meridianstar.com/local/x154640441/A-hero-comes-home
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