PLYMOUTH – I am truly a creature of habit. Each morning after I rise, I make my way to my basement man cave where I shower, shave, rearrange what hair remains on my head, dress for the day and then take my daily regimen of medications. All the while, Hershey, my faithful canine companion, watches my every move from his prone position in the main room that gives him visual access to the bathroom and my dressing room.
As if on cue, the moment I wash down the last pill and put the drinking cup back in the cupboard, he rises and waits for me to turn out the last light and we make our way up the stairs to the kitchen/ living area.
I let him outside for his morning business and while he is outside, I make my first cup of that caffeinated concoction that is created from the vestiges of the nectar of the gods. Many of my diehard coffee addicted friends goad me with the fact that I prefer my brew with a touch of non-caloric sweetener and my favorite flavored creamer of the season. One friend calls it “Foo–Foo” coffee. Nevertheless, I like it. He just doesn’t know what he is missing.
I request “Alexa” to play my morning mood music, of either instrumental hymns, Andrea Bocelli, or the relaxing tones from the horn of Chris Botti. Then as soon as Hershey comes in from outside, he lays across the foot of my chair and waits for me to sit down with my coffee and I-Pad for my morning quiet time.He immediately raises his head for his morning chin rub and then settles down for my remaining ritual and the rest of my time of reading, reflection and prayer.
As I have said, I am a creature of habit and that is reflected in the cups from which I drink my morning's enlivening elixir. These cups are not just my favorites because of their size and feel but also because of the message they convey and bring to my heart and mind each day. One has engraved upon it the word, “THANKFUL” and on the other “GRATEFUL”. I have since ordered another cup with the word; ‘BLESSED” embossed on it as well.
These simple and unpretentious vessels are daily reminders for my heart, soul and mind.
The words thankful and grateful are similar in meaning and are at times used interchangeably in application but in fact they are somewhat different. Thankfulness represents a present interaction concerning an event, experience, gesture of kindness, gift or even a conversation. Whereas, grateful is an ever improving and ongoing show of appreciation as the result of a deepening relationship. The new cup that will complete my trinity of morning messages, BLESSED, means the experiencing of divine kindness, mercy, or goodness.
This month is a time that we have as a nation set aside a day to be thankful, grateful and to acknowledge how blessed we truly are. I believe this is a wonderful holiday and should be celebrated and expressed as fully as possible. Yet, from my experience, this is an attitude and action that should be incorporated in our daily lives and not just on a single specially designated holiday.
One of my favorite contemporary worship songs that we sing at Rhiza Church, where Sabrina and I attend when I am not preaching at another church, is entitled “The Goodness of God.” The first verse and chorus are written here.
I love You, Lord For Your mercy never fails me All my days, I've been held in Your hands From the moment that I wake up Until I lay my head Oh, I will sing of the goodness of God
And all my life You have been faithful And all my life You have been so, so good With every breath that I am able Oh, I will sing of the goodness of God
It is the chorus that speaks to me with such intensity and expresses the truth of God and the experience of my life. He has always been faithful even when I have been faithless. His goodness has remained even in the midst of my wickedness.
It is because of these and so many other reasons that I am THANKFUL for HIs many provisions and never-failing supply. This is why I am GRATEFUL for His continual, ever-present, endlessly expanding love for me and the unfathomable relationship He wants with someone like me. To say that I am a BLESSED man is inexpressible. There are not enough words or languages in the world to verbalize that fact.
So on my worst days and my best, I drink from my favorite cups and warm my heart with the truths with which they remind me. I am THANKFUL and GRATEFUL to be such a BLESSED man.
ABOUT THE AUTHOR
Tim Patterson is Executive Director/Treasurer of the Baptist State Convention of Michigan. Elected unanimously in May of 2015, Patterson formerly served for 9 years as pastor of Hillcrest Baptist Church in Jacksonville, Fla. He also served as trustee chair and national mobilizer for the North American Mission Board.