Daddy Dave – A Selfless Patient
I met David & Anne Bleakley when I was hired as the financial secretary for the church where they were active members. Everyone called them Daddy Dave and Mama Anne. They always went out of their way to help others. (Read about the time they gifted me with a washer and dryer HERE.) I’d come to know and love them by the time Daddy Dave was diagnosed with cancer.
The day I stopped by their house (with a casserole and cookies, of course), my heart was hurting and sad as I hugged Daddy Dave and expressed how sorry I was to hear the news. However, I'll never forget the look on his face, the smile and twinkle in his eye, as he said, "I don't know why this is happening, but I can hardly wait to see how God is going to use me to bless others as I go through my treatment." Instead of feeling sorry for himself, he was grateful for the opportunity to share God’s love with others!
Daddy Dave was actually excited and grateful for the opportunity to share the love of God with others!! When I visited him in the hospital after his surgery, he spent time telling me about the nurses and other members of the hospital staff that he was meeting and praying for each day. He was such a selfless patient, always thinking of others even as he suffered with pain. In fact, he requested that anyone who wanted to do something for him should purchase shoes to be donated to the Shoes for Orphans program hosted by Buckner International, the organization that also runs the orphanage where he grew up. His request brought in hundreds of pairs of shoes and quite a few monetary donations, which brought him much pleasure as he recovered and eventually returned to his normal routines.
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Corrie ten Boom – A Concentration Camp Survivor
I don't remember when I first read The Hiding Place by Corrie ten Boom, sometime in my early teens probably, but her story had a profound effect on me. (Read my review of the book HERE.) Over the years, I've read many other books by Corrie ten Boom and have always been awed by her ability to continue writing and speaking well into her 80s. Despite the fact that she spent time in a concentration camp (and was "accidentally" released only a few days before all the women her age at that camp were exterminated), she spread the message that it is essential for us to live a life of forgiveness.
One of my favorite stories from The Hiding Place occurs when she and her sister Betsie arrive at Ravensbruck Concentration Camp during World War II. Betsie insisted on giving thanks for the fleas that were in the barracks! Corrie was dumfounded and simply prayed that God would listen to Betsie because she could not bring herself to give thanks for the fleas.
The two sisters began holding prayer meetings and Bible study in the barracks every night, and not once did the guards come in and stop them. Many weeks later Betsie learned that the reason they were never discovered teaching about God’s love was because the guards refused to enter the barracks room . . . because of the fleas! It’s always been amazing to me that Betsie was able to give thanks in the midst of picking fleas off her flesh, even before she fully understood the benefits of those circumstances.
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Paul – A Prisoner
Have you ever thought about the fact that many of the Apostle Paul’s letters were written while he was in prison, yet they contain numerous reminders to give thanks, be joyful, and love others. In Acts 27:35, he gave thanks in the tempest before a shipwreck, and in Acts 28:15, he thanked God when they arrived in Rome … and, yes, in both of those instances he was a prisoner!
In Paul’s letter to the Philippians, the words joy and rejoice appear numerous times, once again despite the fact that he was a prisoner (awaiting a trial that could end his life). In fact, he wrote in chapter 4, verse 11, “I have learned in whatever state I am, to be content.”
And finally, it was Paul who wrote the scripture we’re focusing on today as he exhorted the Thessalonians to “Rejoice always, pray without ceasing, in everything give thanks; for this is the will of God in Christ Jesus for you.”
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We may never find ourselves trapped in a concentration camp barracks full of fleas or absorbing the news of a cancer diagnosis or locked in a prison cell, but I’m sure we can all relate to the feeling of being stuck in circumstances that we do not like or understand. It’s in these times that we most need to remember the admonition in 1 Thessalonias 5:18!
In everything give thanks;
for this is the will of God in Christ Jesus for you.
Sometimes it's hard to follow the direction in this scripture. There are times in life when it seems we have nothing to give thanks for; however, the scripture doesn't say give thanks for the things you like, it says in everything give thanks.
What are you giving thanks for today?
Blessings,
Melissa
P.S. Don't forget to grab your spot for the December 13 or 14 Christmas Carols Bible Journaling Class! (Only three spaces left in the Friday class and two in the Saturday class.)
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** If you receive a notification that the class is sold out & would like to be added to the waiting list, please email me.
**If you are registered and unable to attend, please let me know before December 8 for a full refund. Cancellations after December 7 are nonrefundable; however, I will be happy to mail you the class kit.
*Space is limited for each class (it's the same on both days), so don't wait too long to register! Your spot is reserved once payment is received. Within 48 hours of payment, you will receive a confirmation email with my address and directions.
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A list of all my upcoming classes, workshops and events:
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