February 6th

It’s Friday and Sunday’s Comin’!

Dear NUMC, 

So it’s Saturday, not Friday. The last few days have passed in a bit of a blur — Michael fell and broke his ankle early Wednesday morning so we’ve been dealing first with the ER and then pre-op appointments and rearranging life. Thank you for your prayers and concern. 

I know that many of you have also had those moments of upheaval — injury, serious illness, a dramatic life change. You faced either being cared for or you were the caregiver.   Sometimes we know change is coming; sometimes it arrives on our doorstep unannounced.  Either way it’s a bit of a shock. With new details running through one’s head, some of the ordinary tasks lie overlooked and forgotten. 

What I’ve learned from many of you who have had such experiences is that gratitude really helps. Michael has said ‘thank you’ so many times in the last 3 days that I cannot count them — it helps me; it helps him.

Gratitude can get you through a lot of things. When we kind of fall apart, gratitude brings us back to a sense of balance. When I stop and say ‘thank you’ to God, it restores my spirit….’he leads me beside the still waters; he restores my soul” (Psalm 23). 

I love the lines from Psalm 147 which is all about gratitude: 

God doesn’t prize the strength of a horse;
 God doesn’t treasure the legs of a runner.
No. The Lord treasures the people
who honor him, the people who wait for his faithful love.

Each of us is treasured by God — not for our strength nor for our endurance but for the simple gift of life. Thanks be to God. 

“See” you in worship tomorrow.  It’s our Sunday for Holy Communion so have your bread and juice or wine ready to be consecrated. 

Blessings, 
Pastor Mary