Giving Thanks

 

Four Days.  I had just been given an unexpected and incredible four days off work.  And I was going to use them by staying home—something I haven’t done much this year. 

It’s been a tremendous year—I’ve had some of the most inspiring highs and devastating lows.  I’ve moved.  I’ve traveled.  I’ve worked.  I’ve played.  I’ve been blessed to have three hundred and some days of 2013 and most of them have been absolutely packed full.

So these four days at home were badly needed—badly enough that I turned down the family invitations to travel for Thanksgiving.  I have had furniture sitting unassembled in a box for four months.  I have checkbooks that needed to be balanced, bills that needed to be filed, a car that needed to be cleaned, purchases that need to be returned…the list goes on.  In fact, I made four lists, one for each day—law, real estate, “Remember,” and personal stuff.  And I planned to start with the list I would enjoy the least and work to what I would enjoy the most—just to make sure it all got done.

That meant that Day One would be spent at the office.  I had a long list of projects backed by promises to clients.  Without the phone ringing, with less e-mail and other interruptions, I would be able to make a serious dent in the list. 

I was up at my normal time on Wednesday, had an extra-long devotions, worked out, and was at the office a few minutes before 8:30 in blue jeans for the first of my four days “off.”

By 11:30, I had accomplished nothing.  Not one thing was crossed off my list.  But I still had a lot of daylight left and I was sure that over the course of the afternoon, I would be able to wrap up some of the things I had started.  

By noon, I could tell I had an obnoxious headache coming on.  I wasn’t ready to give up on the day, but I was going to have to take some medicine and try to rest until it kicked in.

Unfortunately, this was one of those times that pain killers killed nothing but brain cells.  I dragged myself back to the computer and wrapped up a few promised projects.  But I was good for nothing else.  Even if I could force myself to continue staring at the computer screen, no one would want to pay for the use of my brain.

So, it was about 4:00 in the afternoon when I put on my pajamas and crawled into bed—a cold compress on my head and the hopes that at some point, sleep would give me some relief from the tight burning sensation in my head that rendered my entire body useless.

One painful minute ticked into the next.  My phone buzzed with calls and text messages but I couldn’t even open my eyes to reply.  All I could do was lie there and be miserable.  So much for my lists.  Day One was a dismal failure.

My mind continued to run through the lists of things that I NEEDED to get done with my long weekend.  I was more and more overwhelmed by the minute.  And I could do nothing.  Not even send a text message.

I crawled out of bed to grab head phones and set my phone to play worship music.  I could do nothing except worship.  And I realized almost immediately that of all of the things in the world that I needed to get done over Thanksgiving, worship should have been at the top of my list. 

I soon found myself singing along with Kristyn Getty and Laura Story.   The peaceful strains of “Be Still and Know” convicted my Martha heart.  The quiet confidence of “Bow the Knee” nearly brought tears to my eyes and so did the timely lyrics of “Come Weary Saints.”  The creative levity of “Don’t Let me Miss the Glory” caused me to raise my hands in the dark.  I felt inspired by the Ball Brothers’ “It’s About the Cross” and humbled by the now “old song” “Make me a Servant.”    Charles Billingsly’s “The Pleasure of My King” helped me keep perspective as my head throbbed and my mind was tempted to wander back to frustration of not being able to get up.    

One by one, the songs spoke to me, making me increasingly grateful for my migraine.  It reminded me of the Sunday School lesson I had given on Sunday, something about giving thanks in everything.  I may be the only one who remembers the lesson, but if there is only going to be one, let it be me. 

I’m thankful for this migraine that turned my heart of tasks into a heart of worship.  I’m thankful for a God who gives us weaknesses on purpose so that we will accomplish His purpose.

“Rejoice evermore.  Pray without ceasing.  In everything give thanks, for this is the will of God in Christ Jesus concerning you.” I Thessalonians 5:16-18