October 1 GRATITUDE Psalm 92:1
Good morning from Pastor Glen Brock, Baptist Tabernacle Church, Wendell, North Carolina… “It is good to give thanks to the Lord, and to sing praises to Your name, O Most High;” (Psalm 92:1)
Many years ago, my pastor asked me to pick up one of our senior lady’s and bring her to church. Pastor Cook told me that she was a bit grumpy and difficult! I knew her, casually, yet I had no idea what an impact that this lady was going to make on my life. Miss Ruth had never married, and she took care of her parents and brother until they passed away, and she lived in the house that she was born in. The first Sunday morning that Kayla and I arrived, I was driving my truck, and I immediately saw that there was going to be an issue with her getting in the truck. I asked her to wait a moment, and I rushed back home and retrieved a stool for her to step up on. She climbed into the truck, and she was clutching her purse like I was going to take it from her. Kayla said, “Miss Ruth, that’s a pretty dress!” Her response was, “Yeah!” Wow! This was going to be something! Long Story Short… Miss Ruth lived a simple and lonely life. Her only contact with the world was her weekly trip to church. I discovered that Miss Ruth was different, yet she was the sweetest and most giving person that I had met. She lacked worldly goods, yet she offered so much more! Kayla and I developed a relationship with Miss Ruth, and we visited her on other days, besides Sunday. The one thing that you could count on is the fact that Miss Ruth was grateful! I filled in, in her Sunday School Class, on Sunday, and the class president asked Miss Ruth to have the opening prayer. Wow! I was shocked and tears began to well up in my eyes. Miss Ruth began her prayer with the prettiest words that I had ever heard, “Thank you, Lord, for the privilege to be here today. Thank you, Lord, for Brock and his girl! Thank you, Lord, for them bringing me here…” One of the dear ladies, in the class, told me, later, that she prayed that same prayer every time that she was called on to pray! In her struggles and in her isolation, this beautiful lady taught me a lesson! Regardless of the challenges and situations of life, we can always be Thankful! Miss Ruth, thank you for the privilege of having known you and to have called you FRIEND! Folks, NEVER MISS AN OPPORTUNITY TO SERVE AND TO BE THANKFUL FOR THE BLESSINGS OF GOD! Miss Ruth has gone on to Glory, yet her witness and her gratitude still exists, as an example for me to aspire to achieve! Stay Strong, Stay Focused…THE BEST IS YET TO BE!