I really love my life. This is the overwhelming thought as I sit here watching football on television in my pajamas (during the day!) after just coming back from picking up new books I’ve received from my apartment’s office. This is a rare post written on Saturday (I almost always schedule my Saturday posts) even though you are just seeing it on Monday.
Sure, I spend more time than I ought longing for more: a disposable income, a date, a boyfriend, a husband, a child, a brood of children calling me “mommy.”
But really, I love my life. I love the free-time, the solitude, the friends, the books, the work, the school, the family, the food, the football, the movies, the blogs. I love the responsibilities of being a student, a teacher, an employee, a churchman, and a friend. I love the relationship I have with my Lord and the opportunities I have to share that love with others.
So I’m choosing to be thankful. I have been overwhelmingly blessed, and I’m going to dwell on these things rather than those things I may wish I have.
This prayer has helped me as I’m seeking to commit it to memory. (source: The Valley of Vision: A Collection of Puritan Prayers and Devotions, edited by Arthur Bennett; emphasis added)
Thou eternal God,
Thine is surpassing greatness, unspeakable goodness, super-abundant grace;
I can as soon count the sands of ocean’s ‘lip’ as number thy favours towards me;
I know but a part, but that part exceeds all praise.
I thank thee for personal mercies,
measures of health, preservation of body,
comforts of house and home, sufficiency of food and clothing,
continuance of mental powers,
my family, their mutual help and support,
the delights of domestic harmony and peace,
the seats now filled that might have been vacant,
my country, church, Bible, faith.
But, O, how I mourn my sin, ingratitude, vileness,
the days that add to my guilt,
the scenes that witness my offending tongue;
All things in heaven, earth, around, within, without, condemn me–
the sun which sees my misdeeds,
the darkness which is light to thee,
the cruel accuser who justly charges me,
the good angels who have been provoked to leave me,
thy countenace which scans my secret sins,
thy righteous law, thy holy Word,
my sin-soiled conscience, my prayer and public life,
my neighbours, myself-
all write dark things against me.
I deny them not, frame no excuse, but confess, ‘Father, I have sinned’.
Yet still I live, and fly repenting to thy outstretched arms;
thou wilt not cast me off, for Jesus brings me near,
thou wilt not condemn me, for he died in my stead,
thou wilt not mark my mountains of sin, for he levelled all,
and his beauty covers my deformities.
O my God, I bid farewell to sin by clinging to his cross,
hiding in his wounds, and sheltering in his side.
I love your life too but I love the way you live it more. You are quite the inspiration Ronnica! The poem was lovely.
Would you believe this is extremely similar to my meaningful post I keep mentioning? :)
I loved that prayer .. so good!
Thanks so much for stopping by this afternoon!
What a beautiful prayer. I’m finding that I’m more and more beginning to enjoy my time alone too. When I was married, it felt like a rare treat. After my divorce, it felt like I was spending so much time alone I was sick of myself. I’m finding a happy medium now—filling in with (of course) my kids and also friends….and blogs :) .
Thank you for giving me such lovely words to focus on for the remainder of today.
I do have a google reader. I find I like to come to actual blogs more though. Hear their music, see their layout, etc. I guess I”ll do what I got to to shave some time off all of it while still not feeling like it is a “show”—i really do care :) .
Enjoy your blessed free time. You are building up an incredible woman that is going to make an amazing wife and mother one day!
that is profound! thank you for sharing! :)
That is a lovely prayer, and something I needed to read this week.
Thanks for sharing it. I’ve spent many hours in prayer in the past few days, but most of it not amounting to much more than “Please, God, please.” sigh.
Thanks again for posting this.
I wish I had appreciated my life more when it was like that. Because it was awesome, and I just didn’t see it.
That is a beautiful prayer! It’s great to appreciate your life the way it is!!
I am liking that attitude…it reminded me to be more thankful for my life and what it is in Christ.
And….when do you want to come see me for a haircut? I haven’t forgotten you.
I try, some days more successfully than others, to be thankful for all the wonderful things that I have. Thank you for the reminder.
I love that prayer. Such a wonderful reminder every day of God’s mercy to us in our fallen state and our redeemed position. Setting our minds on those truths should give us passion to be living sacrifices.
I love that prayer as well! So often we take for granted even the small things we have that are often such a blessing (i.e. internet, cable, phone, daily health)…things that are not NEEDS. God provides more than we need and I am so thankful.
Thanks for sharing this prayer.