But giving thanks is a sacrifice that truly honors Me... (Ps50:23)
Yesterday was Mother's Day and as our eldest child walked out the door after dinner, I thought of the comment written in the card I was given and thought, 'One sentence for all the prayer, love, care and nurturing of more than 25 years.' Yet a child rarely has any idea of what their parents sacrificed and did for them as they grew up. They don't stop to think about 40 percent of who they have grown up to be, came from the environment they were raised in. Their family, neighbourhood, friends, schooling and the opportunities they had but took for granted. Who that child is today, in part, is a legacy of my husband and me. As a mother I don't expect to have thanks and praise showered continually upon me, it is what parents do for their children.
In a similar way, I will never know all that My Father has done for me, the opportunities He has brought my way, the circumstances that I was raised in and how much worse they could have been. I have no idea of the near misses I have had in cars or the work God has done in relationships on my behalf. But I can thank Him for His love and care instead of taking it for granted. The fact that I have a relationship with My Father at all is only because He paid the price, giving His Son Jesus. Thank you again, Father, for all you have done and are doing for me.
Praise God for His unfailing love and mercy to me!
These scriptures are quoted from the New Living Translation second edition except where stated otherwise. Where there are three full stops (...), part of the verse has been omitted.