This morning I woke up and thought to myself, “wow, I pretty decently healthy this morning.” And then I got up, said a prayer about that, walked down the hallway to get my first morning cup of coffee and looked outside.  The sun was just rising and it was icy stillness out there.  The colors are beautiful.  I couldn’t help myself but just cherish the moment of a beautiful still moment in which I am truly thankful.

I then grabbed my computer and took a seat to see what the scriptures are for today.  They didn’t quite hit me like I hoped they would on a Monday morning but I did keep coming back to the Psalm.  While I am not a king, I can still resonate with the notion of giving thanks for all that I have this morning.  That is what David is doing.  He is singing to God about his many blessings and where they come from.  This is a hymn of praise to God (a popular form in the Psalms) and it even includes my favorite word…Selah.  The word Selah is hard to translate but lovely to feel.  This word means to give praise with your entire being from hands to feet.  It also means that that is a place to stop and listen to what has just been said and what is to come.  It is a moment to reflect.

So that is what I am doing this morning….pausing to give thanks for my many blessings.  Advent affords us this luxury hear and there.   There are just so many beautiful things about the season and if we don’t stop and pause for a moment we may get too caught up in our own stuff or in our busyness or in sadness about many other things or whatnot that we lose the moment to give great thanks.  Selah

This morning what do you give thanks for?  I give thanks for communities that gather and sing.  I am so grateful for people who comfort those who are sick.  I give great thanks for volunteers for a winter shelter on these beautiful icy nights and an open church that offers coffee all day long during the icy day. I am so thankful for a worshiping community. And people who check in. Family…by blood and chosen. For moments of growth and joy. And the list goes on.  What a great activity to do on a Monday morning!

Go ahead and give it a try. 🙂

Peace,

Court