Upheld In Thanks No Matter What

 

Headlamps Needed

This is Bubba, my little lion kitty. I sure could have used his headlamps last week when the power was out in my home and all throughout the area. What a time! Who would have guessed we would all be without power for 10 days or more?

I don’t know how it might have changed your life and routines, but it most certainly disrupted mine.  At first, I just shivered in the cold darkness and did my best to work with candle light and the tiny bit of heat my gas fireplace put out.  My kitties’ ears and paws were cold. That was saying something. Then came the night I shivered in my usually cozy bed.

That was it. After that, I stayed with my Mom and ran from her place to work, to home to check out things and cats, back to work, to Mom’s, home, well…you get it. And you have your own stories.

This was at the time when we give our annual thanks to God, who provides all things for us. Even when we don’t “feel the love.”

“Tools” Unavailable

We rush through life taking for granted most of it. This year, we learned to stop doing. Because we had no choice. We couldn’t “do” when our tools were not available.

No lights. We improvised or went somewhere we don’t usually go for a spell.

No heat. Again, we had to make new plans. Some had other means of heat, some had to leave.

No stove or microwave for cooking. Some had camping stoves, some ate out a lot, some ate food at the tables of others. Thanksgiving meal concocting was interesting for many. And what about those football games with no TV?

No freezer or fridge. Some lost food and had to start over.

No moving cars when the garage door would not move. Some could do it manually, others “home alone” didn’t dare risk exposure if they couldn’t make it work. So, therefore had to figure out transportation.

Neighborhoods were dark at night and when lights began to twinkle once again, “power envy” settled in.

Ok, so now it’s over. Thanksgiving holiday is over. Christmas decorations and lights are going up everywhere and carols are ringing. Are we just on to the next thing? Or are we contemplating where we have been and truly giving thanks for the infrastructure that makes our busy lives comfortable and possible?

God Was In It

Let’s not just push onward. Let’s continue to pause, even periodically, to thank God for those at Avista and other power companies who worked so hard, around the clock, to get us all back up. Let’s thank God that lives were mostly just disrupted for a time. Let’s thank God that lives were not endangered after all. I heard several miracle stories when trees fell on houses, yet people were not hurt. Amazing. Let’s thank God for the gift of His Son, Jesus, that we are now beginning to celebrate once again.

‘Tis the Season. Let’s not forget the One who holds all things in His hands, even our very lives.

“Fear not, for I am with you; Be not dismayed, for I am your God. I will strengthen you, Yes, I will help you. I will uphold you with My righteous right hand” Isaiah 41:10.