Three Words, but Who's Counting?

Three words. Thank You, Lord.  Thank You, God.  Thank You, Spirit.  I love You.  I praise You.  I worship You. Praise Your name!  Three words that energize.  Three words that empower. Three words that encapsulate.  Three words that insulate. Three words that engage. Three words that save.  Three words that motivate.  Three words that unleash nuclear power.  Love.  Peace.  Joy.

Contrast the incomplete list above with three others that pronounce and denounce:  I hate you. You scare me.  I despise you.  I dishonor you.  I loathe you.  I defile you. You sicken me. I deny you.  I denounce you.  What emotions do these words conjure up compared to the previous ones? Singer-Activist Les McCann declared,

"I love the lie and lie the love
       Hangin' on with push and shove
                                                                    Possession is the motivation
                                                                             Hangin' up the whole d**n nation
                                                                                            Looks like we always end up in a rut (Whoa)
                                                                               Trying to make it real, compared to
                                                       what (C'mon now)."

History changes in the blink of an eye, a slip of the tongue, or a change of perception.  Figuratively, sweet breezes and flowers miraculously appear hours after a metaphorical rainstorm.  I'm reminded of a story about a blind man my Sunday schoolteacher highlighted years ago.  His name was Bartimaeus (quite a mouthful for a kid who often stuttered).   At any rate, not only was this man blind, he was very poor.  He was so poor that we'd call him "Po" back in the day.  The teacher said that a man named Jesus, who had a big reputation as a healer, was headed to the nearest town.

Seated at the side of a road, Bartimaeus spread out his cloak to catch the money others might give him.  I guess so he'd be able to hear the sound of coins as they fell because he sure was blind! 

Bartimaeus asked, "What's happening?"

"Jesus, the miracle man, is passing by, so you need to be quiet!"

"Miracle? I sure need one so I can see!" Now, other people started shushing the blind man but he wouldn't be quiet.  "Jesus, Lord, have mercy on me!"

My teacher said Jesus heard the man calling his name and stopped.

"What do you want of me," Jesus asked.  (Our teacher said Jesus already knew but he stills asked a lot of questions).

"I want you to heal my eyes so I can see!"

Jesus told the man, "Go your way.  Your faith has made you whole!"

The teacher explained that blind Bartimaeus got up seeing, shouting, and singing praises to Jesus as he ran down the road to tell as many people as he could.   The moral was this, the teacher said,  The man's faith had cured him.  Because, number two, Jesus loved that man, even though He didn't know blind Bartimaeus. Blind Bartimaeus and Jesus taught us a powerful lesson! 

Blind Bartimaeus provides a searing life lesson that keeps unfolding decades later.  "Prayer changes things," I first heard Mother declare!  I couldn't understand her insistence on thanking God as if she'd always lived in verdant "pastures" when all I could see was arid desert festooned with stunted Jericho-looking trees.  She'd cajoled me, "Say thank You, Jesus.  Thank You, Lord," when all I wanted to do was to roll over and play dead! In my teens, the junior choir sang, "If I had ten thousand tongues I would praise the Lord with everyone."  

Then life happened and turned me every which way but loose! "Life" is why Mother's counsel boomerangs in my soul. As she predicted, "Just keep on living; you'll see."  Now a believer, I thank and praise God instinctively and as easily as eyes blink.  Often I'm thanking Him in the present time for answers to future requests.  

In no way am I suggesting, dear Reader, that you limit yourself to only three words of gratitude for the goodness He freely gives.  Our attitude reflects our intensity and thankfulness to God for God, not His gifts.  Nor am I pushing but obedience.  Scripture admonishes us, " Give thanks to the Lord, for he is good, for his steadfast love endures forever" (Psalm 136:1, ESV).  And, "Give thanks in all circumstances; for this is the will of God in Jesus Christ for you," (1 Thessalonians 5:18, ESV), among hundreds of verses.

Just sayin'.

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Thank you, dear Readers, from Brazil to Ukraine; from Canada, India, Poland, South Korea, the United States, and many countries in between.  Your support of those of us who grieve gratifies and helps to heal.  As I share thoughts about death, loss, and loved ones. I also write about the impact of our losses, which include but are not limited to relationships, income, dreams, and "isms" (age, sex, and race to name a few).  I hope you'll subscribe and share comments and donations so we can reach even more "club members" all over the world.  Blessings!