Thankful
First of all, I apologize for not posting anything here for the past several days. I have had a case of writer’s block, and been busy with my new part-time job in addition to my regular one, and in addition, I have been keeping a low profile while this blog moves to a new home. OK, those are my excuses, now I’ll get to my thoughts for today!
This particular entry is not gospel music related per se, it’s more personal…so I beg your indulgence for that, and hope you enjoy my message just the same.
This time of year always makes me think of why I(and all of us)should be thankful, and I want to share those feelings with you here.
For many years(1995-2002)I guest-hosted our regular weekday talk show on KMJ on Thanksgiving Day(and ALL holidays), and in fact the last talk show I did there was on Thanksgiving 2002, six months after I suffered a stroke that still affects me to this day. I insisted on doing it that year because I felt I had an important message to share by my being there. I still feel that way.
And that message is, we should ALL be thankful daily, because we are all more blessed than we care to admit. In my case, sure I have daily struggles, and sure I could be making a lot more money, and sure I could have a wife to come home to, and it would be nice to live in something more plush than a converted garage into a studio apartment. And it CERTAINLY be nice to not be plagued by the vitriol and willful ignorance of those who are resentful towards me for whatever non-reason they choose to be, or simply jealous of me because I happen to be something they may want to be but are not…and who continue to speak ill of me whenever they have the opportunity.
But you know what? I am thankful! Why? Because I have a steady, secure job that takes care of my needs, and allows me to indulge my first love of gospel music(by hosting the nation’s longest-ruinning such show). And I have a number of co-workers who bring me joy and pleasure each time I’m there, and various people in business establishments in the Fresno area that enjoy my business, and make it a point to make me feel special each time I come into their place of business.
And despite my continuing health struggles, I have good overall health, that improves each day…and I can do all the things I need to do without too much of a struggle.
And I have a nice car to drive, and a cozy home to drive it to. I have online access(including this blog), and a number of great people I’ve become acquainted with as a result. I have a large LP collection, and a growing CD collection of some of the best music recorded in this world. I have a fine library of Bibles and theological works that bless and challenge me. And I have a working used computer that allows me to write here and for Southern Gospel News(not a bad deal for $50, would you say?).
And I have MANY close friends, and many other fine friends as well, who ALL show me how to live and enjoy life, and whose fellowship I cherish beyond words to express.
Most of all, I have a Lord and Savior who lived and died for me, so that I might have real life, and have it more abundantly(and I have it!).
On my Thanksgiving shows(still talked about today by KMJ listeners), I would emphasize the need to express thanks, especially in a world that likes to complain, and bemoan what it doesn’t have. I would illustrate my point by saying, is it not possible that we can just focus exclusively on our blessings(as I just did above…you all can do it, too!)and shut everything else out for ONE day? Sure we could. And if we can do it for one day, why not two? And if we can do it for two days, why not an entire week? And if we can do it for a whole week, why not a whole month?
You see where I’m going, of course. There is NO good reason why we cannot be thankful for what we have 24/7/365, and beyond. From my reading of Scripture, I think our Creator and God would have it no other way.
On my shows, I would encourage callers to simply share one thing they were thankful for on that Thanksgiving day. One such call that moved me most was a caller who was calling from a car phone. She told me what she was most thankful for right then was for the man in front of her on the road, in his pickup. He was her husband, and she was thankful for what he meant to her…how he loved and provided for her and her children. How many of us in this busy world can isolate that kind of tangible thanks in our lives? That woman’s call will forever be special and instructive to me.
So, for this Thanksgiving, I hope and pray that all of you can shut the world out for just one day, and count your many blessings out loud. And maybe you can make it an extra day…and then, an extra week…and then, for the rest of your lives. We are all so blessed, and we need to show it, and shout it out! Let’s be thankful, OK?
Have a happy, blessed Thanksgiving.
Posted on Nov 20, 2006 - 09:39 PM | [0]
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