We Gather Together

"What a beautiful thing, God, to give thanks, to sing an anthem to you, the High God! To announce your love each daybreak, sing your faithful presence all through the night, Accompanied by dulcimer and harp, the full-bodied music of strings," (Psalm 92:1-3 MSG).

It is Thanksgiving week. My heart is full of rejoicing as we celebrated our Thanksgiving yesterday. We were missing two of our "Iowa" family (Omaha included) whom we missed, one because of illness and one because of a first league volleyball practice. Those who gathered included my three sisters. It has been many years since the four of us were together to celebrate thanksgiving so it was a special day.

Even as we gathered to celebrate thanksgiving, there was among us that couldn't be ignored. One of my sisters just lost her husband in July and is still grieving. She misses her husband so much, especially at night when all is quiet and alone. Another sister is grieving in her own way, the weakening of her husband as he ages ahead of her. Life can be difficult.

Yet, there is thankfulness for sisters and family who love deeply. For parents who raised us with faith and strength in spite of their own grief over losing their only son. Their faith remained strong, and their dedication to God was unfailing. For family that is far away but close in heart. For beautiful days of fall and changing weather patterns in Iowa.

My heart sings, full of thankfulness:

"We gather together to ask the Lord's blessing; He chastens and hastens His will to make known; The wicked oppressing now cease from distressing, Sound praises to His name: He forgets not His own. Beside us to guide us, our God with us joining, Ordaining, maintaining His kingdom divine; So from the beginning the fight we were winning: Thou, Lord, wast at our side, all glory be Thine! We all do extol Thee, Thou Leader triumphant, And pray that Thou still our Defender wilt be. Let Thy congregation escape tribulation: Thy name be ever praised! O Lord, make us free! Amen.
(Netherlands folk hymn, Nederlandtsch Gedenckelanck, 1626, Arr. by Edward Kremser, 1877).

May your week be filled with gladness and thanksgiving as you prepare to gather together. Amen.