Sermonette: Oct. 26, 2020

Nearing the end of a two-week quarantine, snow, a contentious election, among many other 2020-ish happenings, I’m trying to focus on what I’m grateful for.

Here’s my list:

• The relative health and safety of my family, and the community I live in.

• Friends who will make grocery store runs.

• Orange-colored string lights.

• Our neighbor’s projected house witch.

• Conscientious and helpful school teachers.

• Television shows like the Office, Seinfeld, The Good Place.

• Dogs. Aren’t pets amazing? They have no clue that the world is chaotic; they just love their people.

• Long walks, especially after you resist going outside all day.

• The rare occurrence that my kids and I enjoy the same book.

• Flannel sheets.

• Pickled beets.

• My pressure cooker.

• Friends who listen when I’m not calm.

• Friends who forgive when I’m not kind.

• Being sure about something. Anything.

• A wireless printer that is sufficiently loaded with paper and ink.

• Body temperatures below 100.4.

• People who offer to help without being asked.

• People who volunteer to participate on boards and committees.

• Our Eddy County Public Health nurse.

• Homemade slime.

• Halloween costume planning.

• Music! Don’t you miss music??

• Coffee with cream.

We’ve heard that gratitude changes brain chemistry, and have read account after account of people going through terrible tragedy, while trying to look for gratitude in the midst: Anne Frank, Martin Luther King Jr., Corrie Ten Boom, sufferers from natural disasters, those who fight cancer, forced to flee their home due to war, black slaves who sang themselves through survival, and the list is never ending.

We’re reminded of this all over scripture. One of many places in Colossians 3:15-16, which reads, “Let the peace of Christ rule in your hearts, since as members of one body you were called to peace. And be thankful. Let the message of Christ dwell among you richly as you teach and admonish one another with all wisdom through psalms, hymns, and songs from the Spirit, singing to God with gratitude in your hearts.”

So, for our own spiritual health, choose something every day that you’re thankful for. Write it down. Thank someone.