Choosing Thankfulness

Offer to God the sacrifice of thanksgiving… (Psalm 50:14; Amplified Bible)

Photo: graur razvan inonut; freedigitalphotos.net

As pain seared my lower back and right leg, I clutched the edge of the nightstand. Will this disease cripple me, I wondered as I lowered myself back on the bed. Though the recent diagnosis of Ankloysing Spondylitis had helped understand the inflammation that attacked my eyes, fingers, hands, back and lungs, I daily struggled with its degenerative nature. How much is enough, Lord?

“Choose thankfulness.” The two words that I had sensed should be my motto through this journey of pain and illness lodged themselves in my heart. I shook my head. How do I choose thankfulness when I could hardly see or walk? Several minutes later when I couldn’t shake those two words, I sighed and stood up. With one hand holding my back and the other gripping the dresser and then the wall for support, I hobbled toward the staircase. “Lord, thank you for my family…and for all who lift me up in prayer. Thanks for the many friends who stand ready to help at a moment’s notice. Thank you for good doctors and insurance… And thank you that despite the pain I can still get around.”

By the time I reached the bottom of the staircase, I had gained a new perspective. Sometimes giving thanks is difficult, even painful. Though my sacrifice of thanksgiving doesn’t alter my circumstances, it sparks within me the ability to see God’s hand in the valley, helping me embrace each day and treasure what I do have. It transforms moments when wistfulness hovers on regret about simple things that I once could do with ease—cooking, cleaning, driving, reading, typing—into gratitude for what I had and opportunities to bless those who step in to serve my family and me. In Jesus, there’s always something for which to give thanks.

So I’m purposing to choose thankfulness through this journey no matter what each day brings because the One who is sovereign walks with me, and He has become my salvation.

Anita Mellott writes to encourage others. She has more than ten years of experience as a writer/editor in the nonprofit world. School Is Where the Home Is, her book of devotionals for homeschooling parents is available at major bookstores and on-line.

Read More

Love’s Covering By Anita Mellott

Love covers over a multitude of sins. (1 Peter 4:8)

I ran my fingers over the crisp pages of my Mother’s Day gift—a new Bible to replace my tattered twenty-year-old one. I’m going to take better care of this Bible, I determined. Maybe it’ll last longer than the other one.

A few weeks later, I placed it on my nightstand after my devotions. As I stood up, my hand brushed against a glass of water. I watched in horror as the pages turned into a soggy mess. I grabbed a towel from the bathroom, wrapped the dripping Bible in it, and ran downstairs.

You’re so careless. You’ve ruined a new Bible. So much for it lasting a long time. My thoughts accused me as I opened the door to the sunroom. I lay the Bible on a wicker chair and dragged it to the spot that got the most sun.

Throughout the day I checked on my Bible, my heart sinking every time I saw its drooping, wet pages.

That night I stood in the sunroom looking at the warped water-wrinkled pages of my Bible. Go buy a new Bible. This one’s no good. It’s a reminder of your carelessness. Perfectionism battled with relief that my Bible was still usable. It’s fine. It’s not that damaged. I can still use it. I picked it up and turned it over, feeling the bumpiness of the pages. “Child, I love you just the way you are,” a whisper floated into my heart.

Over the years, I’ve come to treasure that Bible. It has become a cherished reminder that God’s love covers the multitude of my imperfections.

Digging deeper: What does God’s perfect love mean to you? Reflect on Psalm 136.

Excerpted from School Is Where the Home Is: 180 Devotions for Parents by Anita Mellott, copyright © 2011 by Anita Mellott. Used by permission of Judson Press, www.judsonpress.com.

Author, and homeschooling mom, Anita Mellott has post-graduate degrees in Communications and Journalism. She worked as an editor with Habitat for Humanity International, and headed the Department of Journalism at her alma mater in India. She blogs at From the Mango Tree.

Read More

Following Jesus

Anita Mellott homeschools and blogs “Words of Encouragement and Hope” at
From the Mango Tree. Her book of devotionals for homeschooling parents will be released by Judson Press in late summer 2011.

“But Peter followed him at a distance…” Matthew 26:58

The rush hour traffic inched along bumper to bumper. Though I had factored in enough time, I couldn’t help glancing at the clock on the dashboard every few minutes.

After allowing a couple of cars to enter the stream of traffic at a McDonald’s entrance, I moved in to close the gap. The nose of a beaten-up, once grey Honda Civic shot out of McDonald's and began to edge its way between our van and the SUV in front of us—space I didn’t think existed.

“What's he doing?” I gasped as I hit the brakes and my tween screamed.

Trapped, I held my breath waiting for the sickening crunch of metal on metal. My grip on the steering wheel relaxed as the car squeezed through and made a sharp turn into the next lane. I exhaled.

“That was close, Mom.” My tween’s voice broke the heavy silence.

I nodded and glanced at her in the rear view mirror.

We drove on, my mind still on the incident. "Didn't I close up the gap? Yet, it was large enough to let a car, even a tiny one sneak in.” After a few minutes, Matthew 26:58 flashed through my mind, “But Peter followed him at a distance….” New thoughts probed. “Is there a distance between Jesus and me? If I followed Him closer, would there be room for doubts and fears? How would my life—my writing and my homeschooling change—if I followed close behind?”

Life’s currents often sweep me along. Schedules, deadlines, and to-do-lists drive me, at times against my will. I begin to fall further behind my Lord. Before I know it, there’s a glaring chasm. Yet, the Master bids me to abide in Him (John 15:4). That implies a deep communion, a closeness of relationship—one that leaves no space for distance to develop.

“Lord, help me follow so close behind You that when You stop, we collide.”

Read More

Flashforward

Anita Mellott homeschools and blogs“Words of Encouragement and Hope” at From the Mango Tree: http://amellott.wordpress.com/.

A global black-out of 2 minutes, 17 seconds offers people a glimpse of their futures. Those who didn’t have a flashforward assume they have no future. ABC’s recently-axed series, "Flashforward," follows federal agents as they unravel the mystery of who caused the black-out and why.


That every decision has multiple alternatives, each of which sets off its own train of events, much like falling dominoes, fascinated me. As I’ve watched the main characters pursue or avoid their futures, the magnitude of the hope that Christ brings overwhelmed me. “And this hope does not disappoint” (Romans 5:5). It’s “an anchor for the soul, firm and secure” (Hebrews 6:19).

The One who spoke the world into being, yet fashioned me holds my future. So I echo the Psalmist’s words in awestruck humility, “All the days ordained for me were written in your book before one of them came to be. How precious to me are your thoughts, O God! How vast is the sum of them! (Psalms 139:16-17)

Though His path seldom avoids the storms, a rainbow fills the sky at the end. For every night of weeping, “joy comes in the morning” (Psalm 30:5). Even when I walk through the darkest valley, He will be with me. His rod and staff will comfort me (Psalm 23:4). No matter where He leads, His peace, which transcends all understanding, will guard my heart and my mind (Philippians 4:7).

When doubts toy with my mind—“Did I make the right decision? Is this what He’s led me to do?”--His promise brings peace, “…in all your ways acknowledge him, and he will make your paths straight” (Proverbs 3:6).

]Faith can take the upper hand because He who has promised is faithful.

During the times I stumble and get ahead of His timing, He who is rich in mercy hears my cry and redeems me. “How gracious he will be when you cry for help! As soon as he hears, he will answer you” (Isaiah 30:19). I can rest in Him because He knows best. “For I know the plans I have for you," declares the LORD, "plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future” (Jeremiah 29:11).


Anita Mellott
Blog: From the Mango Tree:http://amellott.wordpress.com/

Read More