Expectations and Thanksgiving

Yes, I know that Thanksgiving is so yesterday...last week? Two weeks ago! But still, for me, it should be everyday, right?

On a recent trip to Virginia I heard a radio broadcast (what else can you legally do driving anymore??) which presented an article written by John Fischer (singer/songwriter turned philosopher) about the danger of expectations in our lives. I have written on this subject before, as it pertains to our relationships here; however, Mr. Fischer's article discussed our need for examining our expectations in light of our responses to what God does and doesn't do. Any of you who read this blog regularly know dealing with "a God who doesn't behave" is huge topic of pondery for me (not sure "pondery" is a word, but you get the idea).

Here's the bottom line...if we deserve nothing we should be thankful for anything (or everything).

Fast forward to this morning. Negative seven degrees outside and I am laying in bed at 5 AM awake but trying not to be. The thought strikes me that I didn't leave any water running. Heart begins to pick up steam. Then I realize I don't hear the hot tub pump humming (I know, its like asking for prayer because the Beamer is in the shop...a little grace please...really!). At this point I begin to feel anxious so, get out of bed and throw on about 5 layers of clothes. I turn on a faucet and realize that the water in the house is okay. Thankful. Step outside and, sure enough, no life in the tub. Lid frozen down. All not good. I am praying some more negative type prayers at this point and cursing my bent toward procrastination. I force the lid up and, by God's grace, the water is still warm but the level is low and the system had shut down to protect itself. Thankful for both things. All garden hoses frozen. Thankfulness leaves. Again the procrastination of not getting around to moving at least one hose inside renews a heightened level of frustration. Begin to fill the tub using a small trash can. Did I mention it is negative seven degrees?? Get it done. Turn on the tub. All is well.

Now, I am very thankful. But Mr. Fischer is in the back of my mind saying, "If the tub had been destroyed would you still be thankful? Do you realize that this tub is a gift that you didn't deserve in the first place?"

Pretty easy to see a hot tub as something extra and if it had been destroyed I would have eventually gotten around to forgiving myself for that. And what would a hot tub have to do with the grand spiritual scheme of things?? But we can get much more personal, can't we? What about our health? What about our family?

I just saw in the news this morning the report about the young model in Texas who walked into an aircraft propeller by accident. Her mom was at the airport, heard what had happened and ran out to help. All she could do was hold her daughter, pray for her and wait for the emergency team. How helpless we parents are in those situations! As I stood there in our family room tearing up, Mr. Fischer came back into my head. "Are your children yours? Are they not a gift you don't deserve?"

When it comes down to it, the Bible is clear. The very breath we breathe every couple seconds is a gift we don't deserve. Once again I am reduced back to my basal prayer, "Have mercy on me, a sinner!"

Be thankful with me today...and tomorrow...and forever for every thing...as God may bring them to mind.