The Coffee Shop: gratitude
Have you prayed this kind of prayer?
gratitude
gratus (latin)
thankfulness
state of being grateful
INVITATION.
Begin with silence
Quiet settling in
A deep breath, slowly let it out
Meditation
“…let the peace of Christ rule in your hearts, to which indeed you were called in one body. And be thankful.
16 Let the word of Christ dwell in you richly,
teaching and admonishing one another in all wisdom,
singing psalms and hymns and spiritual songs,
with thankfulness in your hearts to God.
17 And whatever you do, in word or deed, do everything in the name of the Lord Jesus,
giving thanks to God the Father through him. [Colossians 3:15-17 ESV]
Invitation.
gratitude
God invites us where we are.
Drew Jackson’s poetry keeps seeping into my morning’s sometimes even in the afternoon’s. I’ll take it anytime. Reading the poem, To Be a Realist had to be read at least three times much like a Lectio Divina rhythm. I love how each of his poems flow from a passage of Scripture. This one came out of the overflow of Jairus’ daughter's miracle. Jesus came to his house leaving the crowds to bring His presence, comfort, and life; His ways of answering Jairus’ pleading and the cries of the mourners in the home.
The impossible of this reality happened!
Jackson writes his inspiring poetic response this way:
Jairus daughter image by Daniel Bonnell
To Be a Realist (poem)
I am a realist.
I deal in the logical,
but sometimes reality
must give way to the impossible.
Especially for the sake
of our children.
by Drew Jackson
It is the realist that first drew me in. Words have a way of tugging on your heart where you are. Then reality, followed by impossible.
But what came in the third reading and followed from the delving in to read the brief passage in Luke 8:49-50 is the paying attention to the phrase “especially for the sake of our children.”
Do you relate? If you are a parent, you can most likely relate and even if you aren’t, children have a beautiful way of opening our hearts. Maybe you’re a teacher, a coach, children’s ministry volunteer, a neighbor, a grandparent, and an auntie or uncle, this phrase grabs at all of us hopefully. Myself, being a parent of four children though each now are within the ages of 23-30, and one in heaven a few hours after birth–this especially for the sake of our children continues to remain. As parent, as mother, I cry out of my reality “Jesus, come see my child.” And plead “please, do something!” Impossible, yes!
How, I don’t know! The how has been a fading of interest recently. More of “Any way you want to Lord, just please save my child.”
gratus love, O God
Reflection.
The impossible!
Have you prayed this kind of prayer?
I have numerous times.
God’s answers are not always what we in ‘reality and logical’ can ever imagine. But His answers are for the best love for us—for the one being healed or released and for the ones who cry and mourners who come by our sides.
Jesus wants to say to all of us “Do not be afraid any longer; only believe and trust [in Me and have faith in My ability to do this] and she will be made well.”
And Jesus took her hand and spoke saying, “Child, arise!”
Her parents were greatly astonished by the miracle. (my paraphrase from Luke 8:50-56)
Let us pause, and be invited into quiet for a moment.
Offer your thoughts and wonderings over to the One who calls us to trust.
The invitation is for you and I to sit with these words, and poem To Be a Realist.
Feel free to extend your time.
In prayer you may wish to offer these guided questions:
Listen for what is resonating, give this a name.
What feels impossible, needful and worthy of pleading to the Lord about?
In what way do you long for God in this place of impossible?
Is there a response of gratitude arising?
Offer your present longings and responses to the Lord.
Wait and see how God hears and gives you His promise.
