Remembering Thankfully

“Every time I think of you, I give thanks to my God.” Philippians 1:3 NLT

“Without others every life would somehow have been different, somehow less.”

My thoughts today are about remembering thankfully.”

Who is it in your life that brings warm thoughts to your heart when they come to mind? There probably should be a number of folk that fit that description for each one of us. People will touch you across a lifetime; many leave their fingerprints of kindness and helpfulness. At one point or another, in one way or another, those people shape what you are becoming.

My birthday was a few days ago, and my family and friends were most kind to me. Of all the generosity shown to me last weekend, the thing most satisfying was the words spoken and written that expressed I had somehow been allowed to touch their lives in some meaningful way.

As I read each of the cards our church families had given – the printed sentiments they had chosen and the personal notes they had penned – their faces came fondly to mind, as did memories of our times together, some joyous and some challenging but grateful for all. I found myself remembering thankfully how they had touched my life with their blessing. Without any one of them my life would somehow have been different – somehow less.

From prison the aged Apostle writes somewhat wistfully, “Every time I think of you, I give thanks to God.” Philippians 1:3 NLT. In all the powerful words that flowed from his pen, his introduction to the Christians at Philippi is different, sounding more personal and tender, and written to friends. They were in his heart, easily came to his mind, and readily spilled out in his praise. As names and faces came to mind, Paul found himself giving God thanks for them.

Who comes to mind that releases your thanksgiving to God? Such an inventory is a good and necessary thing. Whose generous investment of themselves is the reason for the dividends you daily enjoy? Your heart will be more full and your life richer when you thankfully remember the ones who have made you who you are. Parents? Family? Spouse? Pastors? Teachers? Mentors? Friends? Maybe today would be the best of times to tell them – in a letter or in person – while you can and while they are there to hear that.

I guess birthdays that note the journey of one’s life and mark the milestones along the way are a time for reflection. My reflection is of a path strewn with blessings I did not earn and grace I could not have demanded. I think I know a little more of what the Psalmist David was feeling when he wrote, “Surely goodness and mercy shall follow me all the days of my life, and I will dwell in the house of the Lord forever.” Psalm 23:6 NKJV. I will remember thankfully the generosity of God and the graciousness of people who have touched and blessed my everyday life.

My thanks to God today is for those whose life contributed so much more than I could repay.