REFLECTIONS

Blessings Overlooked

Gracious and loving God, on a day we call Thanksgiving we gave thanks to you for the many blessings of this life. We came with thanks for the love you give us, the abundance we enjoy, and the grace we receive. But in our prayers today we come to you in thanks for the many blessings overlooked as we go about our daily lives.

We give you thanks for the mysteries of nature we overlook and all the beauties that accompany it. Trees stand tall in stately being, their leaves in colorful splendor. But we overlook that the leaves nourish the trees, and they offer shelter from elements that could harm other living things. Mountains and hillsides provide majestic backdrops to meadows, deserts, and sea sides, but we overlook their design as part of nature’s system to distribute life-giving resources throughout the lands.

We are blessed by the serenity of seas, lakes, rivers, and streams. But often take for granted the foods produced within them, the inviting pleasure we take in the peace they provide, and the fascination we find in their depths.

 Sky’s blue, sun’s beams, stars’ twinkles, and moon’s glow are all blessings easily taken for granted. And there are the blessings of your genius in the way you made us. We overlook the blessing of sight that allows us to see children smile, deer run, and birds fly; and for the eyes of our hearts that let us discover your presence in our lives if we take the time.

We are blessed by companions you placed alongside us to share our walk through life. And love. We are blessed by the warmth it brings, the comfort it gives, and joy when it’s shared. Love is the blessing that makes us most like you, dear Lord. And it is in love for us that you have blessed us with all things, especially the blessing of your Son’s sacrifice.

Jesus’ life is no fairy tale, yet I wonder if turkey dinners, Santa Claus, and the Easter Bunny overshadow his agonizing sacrifice. But of our many blessings, it is your suffering we most egregiously overlook. We forget, Gracious God, you called your Son to the cross. And you looked on with tearful eyes and wrenching heart while He suffered there. [For you] so loved the world that [You gave your] only begotten Son, that whoever believes in Him should not perish but have everlasting life. So today…

 Because of your ineffable love for us, and your Son’s obedient love for you, we forever live in humble thanksgiving.   Amen

You are the light of the world,

Richard +www.reflectingthesavior.org

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