Thanks-Mas

“Unto Thee, O God, do we give thanks, unto Thee, O God, do we give thanks: for that thy name is near and thy wondrous works declare.” (Psalm 75:1)                

God puts me to the test over and over with what I share with readers. “In all things, give thanks.” “God works all things together for good.” “Trust in the Lord.” “Wait on His timing.” I don’t flippantly spout words with random Scriptures; as I write, God “preaches” the message to me first. So I am thankful for the stories He inspires because He intends them and the accompanying Bible verses for my benefit.

One year our family celebrated “Thanks-Mas,” labeled so because our family wouldn’t be together for Christmas or New Year’s Day, so we met and exchanged gifts at Thanksgiving. The guys’ gifts were on sale months before the season, so we purchased them early and safely stored them. Three days before our gathering, I wrapped the girls’ presents, but when it was time for the guy-gifts, the box wasn’t where we thought it was. We searched the house and outside buildings several times, even looking in places where a box that size couldn’t fit. The disappearance was baffling. As family members arrived on the big day, we offered a reward for finding the mystery box. Although the children were super diligent in searching, no better success. We exchanged the gifts on hand while the guys had to wait for replacement gifts.

Some situations we experience make no sense. Though the mysterious gifts’ disappearance is trivial compared to other matters that could shake us to the core, it was significant. We either allow life’s disturbances to throw us off-balance or deal with them by turning to and giving them to the Lord. He alone knows life’s “where's,” “how's,” and “whys”—we can trust Him to use them according to His purposes. The box of gifts never resurfaced, but that didn’t alter my gratitude for God’s goodness, presence, provisions, and Jesus, who was, is, and is to come.