"Overflowing Gratefulness"

I saw a lady today in the waiting room of a doctor’s office.  She was talking to one of the nurses.  Of course, the conversation turned to the subject of Hurricane Ida.  I couldn’t help overhearing her say that she still has no power in her home.  This is now two weeks post-storm. 

And today is HOT!  Oh sure, we had a bit of a respite last week when the temps were in the 80s, and the humidity was low.  But that “taste of Fall” has disappeared.  Now we’re back to “sweltering”.  I know this because I did more clean-up work today in my yard; and yes, I mumbled and grumbled about the heat practically the whole time.  Then I went inside, turned down the AC, drank a tall cold glass of ice-water, and complained some more about the heat.

It is possible that the lady I overheard today is also complaining about the heat as she works in her yard.  But, unlike me, she has no cool refuge from the heat unless and until the power is restored, which I heard her say might possibly be done as early as four more days.  Or maybe not.

But, whatever is happening at her house, she did not bring a negative attitude with her to the doctor’s office today.  In fact, she shockingly told the nurse, “I’m blessed”.     

And then I realized that it was only through a complex set of circumstances that I was even in a position to overhear this conversation.  I won’t bore you with the details.  Suffice it to say that this was another “Chance Encounter” [see my blog article of June 22, 2021], arranged by The Holy Spirit to help get me re-directed and re-focused.  If the lady I listened to today is “blessed”, then I am double, or triple, or even more blessed. 

Perhaps you are too. 

And all of this reminded me of the last letter the Apostle Paul wrote to his young protégé, Timothy.  The beginning of Chapter Three of 2 Timothy contains a list of things that describe people living in these, the last days of this world.  [Oh, you didn’t know that you are living in the “last days” right now?  Let me digress for a second and show you something you might have overlooked.  “In the past God spoke to our ancestors many times and in many ways through the prophets, but in these LAST DAYS (emphasis added) He has spoken to us through His Son.”  -  Hebrews 1:1-2.  And yes, Paul used the Greek word “eschatos” for “last days” here, from which we get our word “Eschatology”, which means the study of the End Times.  The earth has been in the Last Days since the time of Jesus.  Are you ready for The End?  It is closer now than when you started reading this article.]

Getting back on track, you might want to look at the list of the evil characteristics of people in the last days.  The sin of ungratefulness is listed there, right alongside things like “merciless”, “violent”, “treacherous”, and the list goes on.  Isn’t it interesting that, in the eyes of God, being ungrateful is the equivalent of being merciless? 

By the grace and working of God, I was in a place today where a lady’s gratefulness could overflow onto me.  What a blessing!

As we cope with the aftermath of Hurricane Ida, may we open our eyes and open our hearts to recognize that we are blessed.  May we repent of ever being ungrateful, and may we be willing to express our gratitude to God.  May we also live in such a way that it is gratitude, not resentment, that overflows from our heart, even in the midst of the difficulties brought by the storm.  You never know who your gratefulness might overflow on, and bless, and even change the way they live.

Ambrose Ramsey | Shepherd