Pain. Hunger. Thirst. Cold. Nakedness. Weakness.
From one travesty, misfortune, hardship to another. The list goes on.
Perils by sea. Perils by land. Perils by robbers, countrymen, heathen and city dwellers.
I have two questions.
One—who could possibly endure all these things?
And two—how could anyone end such a list with gratitude?
Paul did.
And on top of a list a mile long, he also suffers from his "thorn in the flesh."
Yet he proclaims that Grace is sufficient. That strength is found through weakness.
(And through infirmity, and reproach, and persecution.)
And he calls himself the glorying fool. Because he refuses to abandon gratitude.
I marvel this man who possesses indomitable gratitude.
May I be such a one.
I'm just reading this today. After hearing something like it yesterday in church. And my heart aches. Because gratitude is not the first thing my heart sings after weary weeks of my own list. Oh that I might learn to sing again. To sing of His grace sufficient for me.
ReplyDelete