Dear Ones,
Hope you are enjoying this sunny day. I studied and did food prep and went to my expercise class this morning and it felt good to exercise again. Al is well now and we are both thankful to feel healthy again. PTL!
Devotions from Judy’s heart
  When we are given a gift or experience that we value but don’t have the opportunity to respond with appreciation, it seems like something is missing and incomplete. We are meant to respond with gratitude and give thanks. There are times when there is a beautiful song sung by the choir, and it just seems it is so right to clap in response at the conclusion. Or there are times when something is so awesome that we give a standing ovation before it feels complete.
    Before my birthday I received a bouquet of lovely flowers that Al had to go rescue from Assisted Living next door as the delivery went to the wrong building. But when he brought me the beautiful flowers, we both searched to find out who they were from but no name. I asked our son who sends flowers on Mother’s Day if he had given them but he hadn’t. I didn’t want to ask anyone else as they may think I am assuming that I should get flowers from them!
   It was a mystery until the last call of the day on my birthday when a dear friend called and during the conversation he asked if I had gotten the flowers. Of course, I was thrilled to now know who had given them to me so I had someone to thank…to complete the cycle of expressing gratitude.
    I think we are doing a disservice to our children when we don’t teach them to thank others and acknowledge gifts given them with gratitude. They grow up missing that completed feeling and maybe feeling a little entitled too. They have it easier today as they can respond online in a few seconds and give thanks where it is due, without even writing a thank you card if they choose. 
    My flowers are still very beautiful on the table and they are a reminder to me of the need of my heart to give thanks to the Lord daily for Himself and His gifts, Scripture is filled with thanksgiving and the Psalmist says in Ps. 118:1 (ESV), “Oh give thanks to the Lord for He is good; for His steadfast love endures forever!” Every day we have so much to give Him thanks, and always for His love. But let our hearts not shrink from ingratitude but be more like the one grateful leper that came back and fell on his face before Jesus to give Him thanks.
   Challenge for today: Start your day with thanksgiving to the Lord and end your day in praise.
Blessings on your day and prayers and love, Judy