A Song of Thanksgiving

"Let all things now living a song of thanksgiving

To God the Creator triumphantly raise,

Who fashioned and made us, protected and stayed us,

Who guideth us on to the end of our days.

His banners are o'er us, His light goes before us,

A pillar of fire shining forth in the night,

'Til shadows have vanished and darkness is banished,

As forward we travel from light into light.

His law He enforces, the stars in their courses,

The sun in His orbit, obediently shine.

The hills and the mountains, the rivers and fountains,

The deeps of the ocean proclaim Him Divine.

We too should be voicing our love and rejoicing,

With glad adoration a song let us raise,

'Til all things now living unite in thanksgiving

To God in the highest, hosanna and praise!

                                                                              -Katherine K. Davis

Those are the words to a hymn titled "Let All Things Now Living", written by Katherine K. Davis and typically sung to a traditional Welsh melody.  It's one of those hymns we don't sing in church any more, and that makes me sad.  And before you get ready to jump all over me, I'm not trying to make some blanket anti-new-music kind of statement. I'm not anti-new-music as much as I am anti- ignoring older music! Much of what we hear and sing in our churches these days that would be classified as "new" or "contemporary" is music that I like very much.  But not all of it is good.  Some of it is just new.  Some of it I don't like.  It's a personal-preference-thing.  But that isn't my point.

Also, before you jump me for bringing up the wrong holiday, be assured that the title of this post was deliberately chosen.  In part, because it's the lyric of the song.  In part, because I don't acknowledge the "celebrations" going on today.  I hate this "holiday" and refuse to participate.  But it isn't my intent to make a big deal about that.  Just to make you aware of my position!

This song has been ringing in my ears, running through my brain over and over for several days now.  Not because we have sung it recently; we haven't.  We sing some wonderful music in our church.......new songs, old songs, the great hymns of our faith.  But this particular one hasn't been sung lately.  Rather, it has been called up from deep in the recesses of my memory.  It's a catchy tune, but it's the text that has my attention.

I am becoming more and more aware of how much I take for granted.  How often I forget to say "thank you". It's not that I'm ungrateful.  Forgetful, yes.  A little scatter-brained sometimes.  Distracted.  But not ungrateful. 

I have so many reasons for thanksgiving this morning.  The beauty of the world around me.  That I can SEE the world around me....and the computer.....and the TV......and the dust on the table......all without any glasses!!!  I'm so grateful for a successful eye surgery last week.  So grateful for the skill of my surgeon.  For the nurses who cared for me pre- and post-op.  For the prayers of so many friends throughout the procedure and during this healing time. 

I'm convinced that it was those prayers that kept me so calm throughout the whole thing.  That's very un-Susan-like.  I typically don't do real well with medical procedures.  Just the thought sends me over the edge.

On the drive over to Morganton, and as we sat in the surgery center waiting room and the pre-op room, Al kept asking if I was OK.  And I was.  It really was amazing!  So thanks to all of you who have been praying!

I'm so thankful for dear friends. For the best husband ever!! For my family.  For my new church family.  For my pastor.  For good health. 

And I am beyond grateful for a Sovereign Lord.  One who knows me best and loves me most.

So to Him today I am singing a song of thanksgiving!

"Bless the LORD, O my soul, and all that is within me, bless His holy name. (Psalm 103:1 NASB)