Lisa Hetzel

“Give thanks in all circumstances, for this is God’s will for you in Christ Jesus.” (1 Th 5:18)

Don’t you just love opening presents? Shiny, colorful, crinkling paper tears away as wishes are filled. The words “thank you” are effortlessly repeated. If you want to hear a lot of grateful people, just watch celebrities as they climb the stairs to receive their Oscars.

But life is not always a party. Certainly, it is not the Emmys. Along with days filled with presents, friends and food, life has its share of trials. Fear, loneliness, and bitterness consume so many.
It’s easy to feel grateful when things are going well. But God calls us to be thankful in all circumstances.

When life becomes difficult, uttering the words of thanks are the last thing from people’s minds. The reality of job losses, broken families, and sickness happens everyday.

As I sit in the waiting room of ICU, I wait for news that the stroke won’t completely incapacitate my mom. What words of thanks can I utter?

I’m overwhelmed, exhausted, and worried. The last thing that I can think about it is a grateful heart. As I begin to pray I feel peace. Then, I realize that I can thank God for the lullaby music that is played as babies are born in this hospital. I look around and see clusters of families and friends as they talk about their loved one. I feel so blessed that I was able to come out to help my dad. I’m thankful that I can be here.

Dear Lord,
You, oh Lord, know everything that is happening. Thank you for helping me understand that I don’t have to do it all by myself. All that I have to do is keep giving you thanks.

Did you ever have to make a project for school? I was one of four kids and our kitchen was continually used as Project Central. There was always a sigh of relief when the toothpick creation, rolled poster board or shoebox diorama was finally taken to school.

Now, as a parent, we have given our son a permanent shelf assigned for his “works in progress.” While he was designing his latest masterpiece, I remembered some unfinished assignments of my own.

During a college Bible study, I was given a difficult challenge. We were studying Paul’s first letter to the Corinthians. When we reached verse 13, the teacher stopped and said that we had just reached a lifelong challenge.

Take the word “love” out of the verse below. Substitute your name. Then, read it aloud.

“Love is patient, love is kind. It does not envy, it does not boast, it is not proud. It is not rude, it is not self-seeking, it is not easily angered, it keeps no record of wrongs. Love does not delight in evil but rejoices with the truth. It always protects, always trusts, always hopes, always perseveres. Love never fails” (I Cor 13: 4-8 NIV).

It’s twenty years later, and I’m still trying to complete this assignment. I have realized that the whole point is to become more like Jesus. Unlike the poster or shoebox, I am considered successful if I continue to do all that I can and lean on God for the rest. I know that I can depend on him, because God never fails.

Prayer Starter: Dear Lord, please show me how to take steps to become more loving. Remind me to notice how my attempts affect others. Grant me wisdom to know when to speak and when to listen, when to take action and when to simply wait. Thank you for your generous kindnesses. Amen.

It’s official. Mudslinging season is winding down to a close. During the next few days, emotions will run high, opinions will be shared and votes will be tallied. Don’t make a mistake. Our children are watching us. I know, it doesn’t seem possible that our own kids can comprehend complex issues involved in national and local elections. They probably don’t.

But, one of the perks of teaching five year olds is that I get to enjoy hearing some of the most adorable, creative, uninhibited attitudes. Most of the time, when kindergartners are talking about the elections, they mimic the adults that they have heard. Sometimes, they even sound like radio or television commercials.

The bottom line is that they are learning about our own perceptions of truth. Children are not paying as much attention to what we say as much as what we do. They are constantly looking for our actions to match our words. This is a hard challenge to meet. Regardless of how well we reach any attempts to be good examples, they base their primary opinions on what they see .

“Let us not love with words or tongue but with actions and in truth. This then is how we know that we belong to the truth, and how we set our hearts at rest in his presence.” (1 John 3: 18-19 NIV)

Have I sought God’s guidance as I prepared to vote? Have I shown respect when discussions revealed that I disagreed with someone? Did I really listen? Have I allowed the election to separate me from others? If I have, how can I help heal this wound? Will I be a good witness when the results are announced?

Dear Lord,
Please lead us in your truth, your life, your way. Help us to become more like you. Show us how to work together. Thank you for the privilege of witnessing your love. Amen