by Elysia Greene - 11/18/13

Inspired by Ann Voskamp's "One Thousand Gifts"

 

   And as we get ready for business and stress of the holidays and finding the perfect gift--or at least one that won't just get thrown away--we forget. We let the stress rise and anxiety writhe. It quickens our pulse and we forget peace, that beauty child we all wish we had. Isn't that what we Christians are supposed to have though: Peace and Trust in our good God? When we allow stress to wash over us like a wave, we are only screaming a gospel of distrust to those looking on. We say, "Oh, the Lord is good, and He will take care of it," then in the same breath utter, "I am just stressed out right now and need a break!" 

 

   If we really trusted the Bridge Builder, our good Architect, we would cross the

bridge of today without a second thought, worry or care. Who thinks twice before

driving over the James River Bridge or going through the Lincoln Tunnel?

 

--The bridge of Trust is built from yesterday to tomorrow out of planks of thanks.-- 

 

   Thanks is what reminds us of what God has already done, what He has already

brought us through without a scratch. To thank God is to remember all of the other

bridges you have already crossed, which were each once the bridge of today but are

now bridges of yesterday. To remember and give thanks is to lay the planks for your

bridge, which the Bridge Builder is helping you to construct today. Without thanks,

you will not trust, and if you do not trust, you won't cross your bridge for fear of it

falling. And if you never cross your bridge today, you will be stuck always and perpetually in yesterday--untrusting, unthankful and stressed.

 

   So give thanks today, no matter how small the thing. Lay your thanks planks. Cross your bridge. Trust your Bridge Builder for He has built many bridges and does not make mistakes. 

 

Eucharisteo - [Greek] "To give thanks"