Some time back, I told you about a Puritan prayer that I’ve been memorizing. Well, I’m still working on memorizing it, as it’s something I work on while I’m brushing my teeth (but only in the evening…I don’t have enough brain cells running in the morning for such an activity). There’s one phrase in that prayer that’s bugged me for a while:
“I thank thee for…the seats now filled that might have been vacant”
I guess what bugs me about this phrase is that all the seats in my proverbial home are vacant. There’s no husband in sight and certainly no kids (not even a screaming baby).
Yet, as I continue to reflect on this prayer each night, I’ve come to recognize that many of the seats in my life have been filled. There’s my family, though far away, I am thankful to have good relationships with. There’s my roommate and our semi-nightly walks and talks that I enjoy. There’s my care group at church, who I miss if I don’t see them any given week.
And yes, there are children in my life: all those I am blessed to teach and lead on a weekly basis at church, but that’s not all. There are also a couple special ones, who, though not my own, I claim: Ladybug and all her 8yo wisdom, curiosity, and love, and “Lana” and all her 13yo silliness, competitiveness, and grown-up struggles.
So instead of mourning the loss pronounced by those vacant seats, I choose to be thankful for the seats that are now filled.
Photo by twoblueday
I love your attitude!
Very interesting line in that prayer! However, I sometimes think there are too many filled seats in my house. :-)
That is a great post! Is it ever ok to unfill a seat? LOL. Just kidding! Love the picture you found for it too. I love those kinds of chairs!
I went back and read that prayer. It brings to mind the words of the hymn “Rock of Ages”.
As for the seats that might have been vacant, I wonder if it could refer to those loved ones of a family who could have left the faith but remained firm. Or maybe they left the faith and returned. The words are just a little vague.
Oh, how your words hit me… I have no children of my own & I feel the pain in that myself, even though I’m married & have step daughters… but I needed that reminder of even though its not who I wanted in those seats, its that they are full… need to focus on that…thank you for this post!
Sounds like you have a full table after all!
what a beautiful thought.
What a lovely positive post! We all have situations and circumstances we wish were different but it’s so enriching to look for the positive aspects! And I love the colorful chairs… beautiful pic…
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