“Praise the Lord. Give thanks to the LORD, for he is good; his love endures forever.”
–Psalm 106:1
“Be thankful in all circumstances, for this is God’s will for you who belong to Christ Jesus.”
–1 Thessalonians 5:18 (NLT)
Two weeks ago, as you may remember, Chaplain Tim and I got to attend my grandpa’s 90th birthday party. I witnessed something on the way home that had an unexpected effect on me.
I had just finished going through the scanner in airport security, when one of the airport workers reminded everyone in line that today was Veteran’s Day. He asked all of us to observe a moment of silence, in remembrance of all war veterans. I wasn’t sure if everyone would listen to him, but soon a hush did indeed fall over the crowd. Within seconds, the chatter of people and beeping of machines was gone. I couldn’t believe what I was hearing. Silence isn’t often found in airports, so I was honored to be there at that time. Of course everything became noisy again seconds later, but that quiet moment stayed with me.
Sometimes our lives can become just as noisy as an airport, if not noisier. We tend to get carried along within the hubbub of life. Many people juggle family and job-related obligations, and they often try to get several things done at once. And if that isn’t enough, there’s a constant stream of mental noise. Once we complete one task, we immediately think of 3 more that need our attention.
Instead of getting carried away all the time, we need to take some time to take on the role of that security worker, and quiet our minds and lives down for a moment. I know as well as anyone that this is hard to do, especially during the holiday season. But somehow or other, you’ll be able to find the time. Maybe you’ll wake up earlier than usual one morning, or you’ll have some time in between work and cooking dinner. You might only have a few seconds.
In any case, make the time to become still and silent, and reflect on everything God has given you. It’s very important to give thanks for God’s gifts to you. Try to treat thanksgiving as an attitude, instead of a holiday full of parades and food and football. Try to live for those little quiet moments, when you can give thanks for the loving gifts of a very generous God. Have a wonderful Thanksgiving, and I wish you a full and thankful life!
Thank you for reading this, and may the Lord give you a wonderful week! We are trying to reach people who are hurting, so if God lays it on your heart, please consider becoming a partner with us. If you would like to make a donation, please visit www.hcmachaplains.org and click on the Donate Now link. You can also send donations by mail to HCMA (Healthcare Chaplains Ministry Association). Our ID number is 560. The address is 101 S Kraemer BLVD, Suite 123A, Placentia, CA 92870.
Finally, you’re always welcome to join our Tuesday night Bible study. These studies are conducted by conference call, and they take place at 5:30 PM Arizona time. Our conference number is 712-432-6498. When prompted, press 1 for live chat rooms, and we’ll be waiting in room 31. You can press pound to bypass our friend Sharon’s intro message once you’ve entered room 31. We hope to talk with you soon!
If you have questions, comments or prayer requests for Timothy or Stephanie Burdick, please call 507-369-6861.