October 28th, 54 degrees in Jonestown, looking out my window as the rain is dripping off my Knock Out roses, the yellow Sugar Maple leaves are floating in the air weighed down by the falling rain, the gold-fish in my pond are enjoying the shower. As I sit in my easy chair after reading my daily Psalms, I ponder on one that seemed to jump off the page. Psalm 148 is where all of creation is encouraged to praise the Lord, the heavens, angels, sun & moon, stars of light, sea creatures, fire and hail, snow and clouds, stormy wind, mountains and hills, fruitful trees, beasts and all cattle, creeping things and flying fowl. It closes by encouraging His highest creation to praise Him, kings and all peoples, princes and all judges of the earth, both young men and maidens, old men and children. It’s interesting that it doesn’t refer to old women. I guess even back then women didn’t like to be referred to as old. Ha ha!

Though there is an old woman in my life who despite very difficult living circumstances and heartbreaking situations at times, still praised the Lord in the midst of everything. In the 1950’s my grandma always got up first and started a wood fire in her cook stove and one time baked 4 pumpkin pies before anyone else got up! She chopped wood, carried water in from the pump, cleaned the out-house and even cleaned chickens! That doesn’t mean remove the wrapping and rinse with water. It means chop off their heads, scald and pluck and all the rest!

An entry in her diary 54 years ago this month shows her thankfulness and gratitude: Thur Oct 12 1961, 72 degrees, “As I sat at my table at lunch I had some lovely memories of 20 years ago when the kids came home at dinner from the little yellow school-house. How I would love to see them all around the table. Lovely Irene, Saucy Minnie, my John the Blonde, Snack the always neat boy, Tottie my little brown-eyed doll, Betty my last Chick! Ah memories!”

Most of the time in our lives we tend to complain more than we give thanks. We see what is missing rather than what we have. Today let us join the Psalmist and “Praise the name of the Lord, For His name alone shall be exalted. His glory is above the earth and heaven.”

Next story “Grandma Said Give Thanks” below:

https://lobochronicles.com/2015/11/25/grandma-said-give-thanks/