A Note From Jim

I spent today in Indianapolis with Kyle at a doctor’s appointment, leaving Jim home alone. When I returned, he had composed the following about our dinner last night:

Ok. It was one of those days. Nothing had gone bad. The day had gone fairly well. Do we need anything? No. Its dinnertime, and what’s for dinner? Five o’clock and we haven’t planned anything yet. The kids had a good day at school. Marilyn had a good day at work. I got a unit of platelets and even ran a couple of small errands (maybe I shouldn’t have because of my low WBC count). And no one was exhausted yet – tired from the day – but not exhausted. So what’s for dinner? At this point we start thinking - what’s easy? What’s quick? Here are our options: grab and growl – not much in the way of leftovers but we can make it; run down to Scott’s and get a precooked chicken and deli salad; order pizza; go out (again, not a good idea because of my low WBC). Just as we were going to select the least worst option, the phone rang. A fellow church member called and asked if he could come over and deliver dinner. At that late hour, he thought we could save it and have it another night. He was thinking that he was providing extra – not giving immediate provisions. We were getting meals during the most difficult times while I was in the hospital, but we had stopped them. After all, we had our needs covered, and we were doing well. So last night we had lasagna for dinner. It came in cooked and hot. We didn’t have to wait for a 30 minute delivery. We didn’t have to prepare or wait for preparation. The meal was delicious. I haven’t eaten so much since I got sick.

To wrap up, do I choose a verse, or song lyrics?

Matthew 7:9-11 Which of you, if his son asks for bread, will give him a stone? Or if he asks for a fish will give him a snake? If you, then, though you are evil, know how to give good gifts to your children, how much more will your Father in heaven give good gifts to those who ask Him!(NIV) We didn’t ask but God still provided.

Psalm 100 is a psalm of thanksgiving. It was December 3rd, not Thanksgiving Day, but it still works for me.

How about song lyrics:

“Thy compassions they fail not” or “Strength for today bright hope for tomorrow” (Great is Thy Faithfulness). “Count your many blessings see what God has done.” (Count Your Blessings), “Mercy drops ‘round us are falling, but for those showers we plead.” (Showers of Blessings). Boy we got drenched with that mercy drop.
“If we are the Body, why aren’t His arms reaching?” (If we are the Body) Well, I have to tell you, His arms are reaching and holding our family.

There are tears of sorrow, tears of pain, and tears of joy. Right now I have tears of gratitude and thanksgiving.

Thank you, Joe. Thank you, God.

Jim