Just Starlings

“The thief does not come except to steal, kill and destroy. I have come that you might have life and that you may have it more abundantly.” John 10:10

I have learned, I think, about the sacrifice of thanksgiving. About giving thanks when I feel least thankful. When I have every reason to NOT feel thankful.

It could be the world is crashing around me, pain rips my heart, my knees buckle, I can barely breath from the grief that grips my soul. Or maybe life is hard at the moment, full of physical pain, exhaustion rules my body, dragging my feet when I want so much to feel the vigor of youth. It might be the loss of a dream, or a job, or a loved pet. Whatever the situation I know I have every right to not be thankful.

Yet in the worst of times, I have learned to whisper, “Thank You Jesus.” I know the peace it brings, the comfort to my hurting heart. I know the strength in my spirit and the contentment even though the circumstances are bleak. I know the supernatural joy that come when I give Jesus my sacrifice of Praise.

Thanking Him in the best of times is easy, that I learned a long time ago. Now, I am reading that thanksgiving is the key to living victoriously. Yes, when life is hard and when life is super good, but what about every day? Every minute, giving thanks in the small frustrations of daily chores? How about when I’m grumpy or in a tizzy because I’m rushed and I hate to be rushed?

Tonight I am doing dishes. I hate doing dishes. I have no dishwasher, don’t want a dish washer then I would have to fill it and empty it. So I do dishes every day. Not my favorite chore so I leave them until it’s almost time for supper, almost time for John to be home. So now, I’m in a rush, which I hate, doing the thing I like least to do.

I grouse. I grumble. I complain. I throw things around. Something spills, or breaks, and I’m madder yet. OR is that more mad. Angry is the word. My blood pressure surely goes up along with my voice. My dogs hide. I slam things.

Suddenly in mid-slam, I stop. Wait a minute!

At this moment, at this time, I’m not living a very abundant life.

Sure, I was awhile ago when walking up on my hills. I was thanking God and praising His name, but right now, as I’m stomping and grumping and sling dishes around, I’m not living a fulfilled life.

“The thief comes to steal—” yeah, you betcha, steal my joy!
“and to kill—” sure, kill my contentment.
“and to destroy—” yep, that’s right, destroy my peace.

“The enemy has you right where he wants you.”

I think about that. Oh yeah, Satan wants me fuming and mad, stomping and yelling. Surely NOT looking at Jesus, and absolutely NOT walking close by His side, and for sure NOT thanking Him.

Do I want to be there? Where Satan wants me to be? Absolutely NOT!

I just read in Ann Voskamp’s book “One Thousand Gifts” that “thanksgiving is necessary to live the well, whole, fullest life.” Didn’t I already know that? Isn’t that what I was doing when on my walk, sitting on top of that hill thanking and praising Him?

“Sure, but that’s not what you are doing now.”

So I’m supposed to thank You now when I’m doing dishes?

“Especially now.”

I am still for a long time.

Can I thank Him now when I’m grumpy and out of sorts? Do I want to thank Him now? No!

“A sacrifice of thanksgiving.”

So—not just when tragedy strikes and hardships come, am I to give that sacrifice. Not just when I’m doing what I enjoy, like walking on my hills, am I to thank Him, but in the every day drudgery. When I’m doing chores, I really don’t want to be doing, when I’m cranky, grumpy and angry, especially when I’m angry.

Okay, I don’t feel like it, but I’ll do it. I look out the window and see a bunch of black birds hoping around on the freshly mowed grass.
“Thank You Jesus for the birds They’re just starlings, but the inky black against the green grass is pretty. They’re just starlings, but they’re Your creation and You care where they make their nests and when one falls, You know. I’m just a grumpy woman washing dirty dishes.

Thank You for caring for me more.

Thank You the birds are here and it’s finally spring. Thank You the grass is so fantastically green. Thank You I mowed today. Thank You the sun was shinning. Thank You it was cool and breezy not hot.”

Once started my words snowball. Thanksgiving pours from my mouth. And my soul. My eyes taking in the wonders of the world outside my window. Thanksgiving washing my heart as my hands wash the hated dishes.

I wash the last fork, amazed the dishes are done. Gone is the rushed feeling, the grumpiness, peace floods my soul once again.

My eyes raise to the sky. Sun rays bursting out, slicing through the dark clouds. Dazzling light blinding my eyes. Brilliant sun shinning through sheer clouds. Light shining forth in darkness. Like my heart where once again joy reigns.

Jesus says, “I came to give you life, not just life, but life in abundance, to the full, joy overflowing, victorious life, laced with peace, every day, every minute, in every circumstance.”

Abundant life through thanksgiving, even in the little things.