On August 18th, while coming back across the border I wrote down some lessons the LORD taught me on that long drive home! Take a look:
What should have taken us 3 hours has turned into five hours due to the added season to the GTA that we all dislike but is a necessary evil – construction on the highway. No doubt at some point and time of anyone living in the Greater Toronto Area you have fallen prey to this season and had the unfortunate experience of pumping breaks along the highway at less than 10 km an hour for what seems an eternity. It causes nerves to be short, horns go honking and patience is stretched.
That was our experience this past weekend and can I tell you, without our iPod, great conversation and nibbling on leftovers I am truly not sure how the journey would have faired. I will be the first one to say we should encourage our hearts and find something positive in the situation to give thanks for……of course there is a lot. Of course the volume went up on the music a bit, we had gas in the tank but I have to tell you it wore on our nerves and I had to do everything not to think about getting up in 5 hours to get out on a similar highway and make the trek to work.
The only thing I can say in this blog is in everything, including this traffic jam we can give thanks for this is the will of God. It is the end part that can enable us to give thanks. What is the will of God? To give thanks. I thank The Lord that I have a mind. A mind to praise Him. I am thankful that I know HE will give me the desire to serve Him and to do what pleases Him for He is good.
While it may be easier to give thanks here in a city that has access to all kinds of privileges. I am thinking of the precious people in West Africa who are suffering hourly from the Ebola outbreak. A nation that was used to touching, hugging, shaking hands and sharing freely have become almost frozen by the fear of contamination amongst each other. This fear includes even burying the dead who have to be laid to by townspeople who are clothed from head to foot and goggles. Then you have the unreast in the Middle East that is as shaky as an earthquake ready to spew its lava. Maintaining an attitude of gratitude, not in pride or arrogance enables us to think about, and pray for those who are less fortunate.
Even as we pass the cement trucks and men who are away from their families tonight to work to put food on their families tables I am thankful for them. Keeping it all in perspective, keeping cool heads, in everything giving thanks, signs off this one weary, thankful traveller Canadian Citizen!
Blessings!
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