Isaiah 53:5 But he was pierced for our rebellion , crushed our sins. He was beaten so we could be whole. He was whipped so we could be healed.
There comes a moment of clarity in your life: if often occurs around the time your first rent payment out of money you actually earned yourself. You realize that everything has a cost. There was a cost to your parents or whoever raised you. Whether they paid only for a roof over your head or spoiled you extravagantly with far more than you needed, they paid your way.
You realize that if your childhood was carefree in any way, it was because someone footed the bill, they provided you with food, shelter, clothing and probably a lot more than that.
This should not incite us to guilt, but gratitude. And hopefully it enables us to be transformed slowly from takers to givers. To provide our own children, or perhaps to turn around and provide for our parents when they need care. Even extend generosity to strangers.
Perhaps your vision is clouded by memories of scarcity or lack, blocked by visions of pain inflicted rather than gifts given. But it is possible to grieve what was missing and simultaneously be grateful for what was given.
And that clarity should make us wonder, where else has someone paid my way, without my being fully aware of it? Jesus paid that debt on our behalf that we could never have paid. He took the punishment for our sins. He stood in our stead so that we could be in a relationship with Him.
We need not wallow in guilt, and it would be senseless to try to repay this debt with anything but gratitude. Perhaps appreciating Jesus' gift to us can help us to be grateful as well for imperfect gifts given by our families.
Take a moment to reflect on the good things you have been given in this life, both from your family and Jesus. THANK HIM for those things.
Father God, guide me today to do all things that bring glory and honor to You AMEN
For it is WITH God all things are possible
Have a VERY BLESSED THANKSgiving eve
God BLESS ALL!
True Gratitude
