Amid another shutdown in New Mexico, I have much to be thankful for. My family is healthy, and we love one another and the Lord. Covid won’t interrupt our gathering together for Thanksgiving. We haven’t done that for 12 years because of 1200 miles that separate us. But Covid may interrupt our plans to spend Christmas together. I’m still thankful. I have the Lord’s peace in my heart.
Let the peace of Christ rule in your hearts,
since as members of one body you were called to peace.
And be thankful.
Colossians 3:15, NIV
One of my favorite outings takes place along the Rio Grande. Perhaps you’ve seen the pictures I’ve posted on Facebook. My husband and I walk the trails there often. I’m thankful we can don our masks and enjoy the outdoors together. We say hello to those we pass and often comment on the beautiful day.
One man this past week wasn’t thankful to have us stroll past him or speak to him. He mumbled under his breath that in twenty years of walking the trails, he’d seen more people that day than ever before. An odd statement because the parking lot had several open spots when we pulled in and parked. The man also made the comment that there must have been an AARP conference in town that just let out for all the people he’d seen (including us). Clearly the man was troubled. He called out to us with a loud voice after we passed by and said something about our son. The chance he knew us, or our son (who lives in Tennessee) was slim.
We could have responded with the same level of rudeness he implied. Instead, we walked on. But that wasn’t enough for me—the Lord called me to pray. Whether the man was drunk or high, didn’t matter to me. I prayed for him to get the help he needed and asked the Lord to protect him from harm. I also asked God to remove the man’s heart of stone and to give him a heart of flesh.
I will give you a new heart and put a new spirit in you;
I will remove from you your heart of stone
and give you a heart of flesh.
Ezekiel 36:26, NIV
In the troubled times we live in, I’m thankful for the Lord’s peace and will continue to pray for those who may not have the same eternal hope I have.
I’m also thankful for you and leave you with this blessing: