Give Thanks & Hold On

Have you noticed the red maples? While the other trees have dropped their leaves, the maples seem to be holding on for just a bit longer and I'm all about it.

Even on a gloomy, drizzly, cloudy, sleepy Sunday afternoon.

Especially on such a day.

1 Thessalonians 5:16-18 ~ "Rejoice always. Pray continually. Give thanks in all circumstances. For this is God's will for you in Christ Jesus."

This was the message I heard this morning in worship. Suddenly I was transported back to the fall of 2015 when a family situation felt gloomy and sad and uncertain. Everything that we knew and loved had been turned upside down. I grieved hard and in between the tears, I wrestled with the "whys" and "what now."

And then these words ... rejoice always, pray continually, give thanks. Over and over again, these words played in my head and in my heart.

Not just words, but instead, a promise, a hope, a faith that all would be well. Even in the sad, gloomy, and uncertain moments that were taking place within our family.

As I followed along with the scripture passage this morning, I read a little further and read these words ... "hold on to what is good." (1 Thessalonians 5:21b)

Hold on.

There is good to be had.

Even in the hard moments of life.

Rejoice always. Pray continually. Give thanks.

And ...

Just. Hold. On.

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