In 1975, a man named Arthur Bennett published a collection of prayers and devotionals – lines and words he compiled from great Puritan writers and thinkers of the past. He called the collection The Valley of Vision. For those not already familiar with this beautiful work, I recommend it. Though some of the language is understandably archaic, the prayers are written with great thoughtfulness and lead the reader to meditate long on their meaning. Again, in the spirit of the roots of Thanksgiving, I’d like to share some lines from those prayers that have been particularly meaningful to me.

10 Lines from The Valley of Vision Upon Which I’m Thankful to Dwell

1. Quarry me deep, dear Lord, and then fill me to overflowing with living water. (From “The Deeps“)
2. Secure me by thy grace as I sail across this stormy sea. (From “The Mover“)
3. O Lover of thy people, thou hast placed my whole being in the hands of Jesus, my Redeemer, Commander, Husband, Friend, and carest for me in him. (From “Evening Prayer“)
4. I trusted thee in an hour of distress, and thou didst not fail me, though faith trembled. (From “Love Shed Abroad“)
5. When I am restored and rest in thee, give me summer weather in my heart. (From “Repose“)
6. Fill me with an over-flowing ocean of compassion, the reign of love my motive, the law of love my rule. (From “Humility in Service“)
7. May I never seek in the creature what can be found only in the Creator. (From “A Disciple’s Renewal“)
8. Give me knowledge of thy goodness that I might not be over-awed by thy greatness. (From “Worship“)
9. Come as beautifier, bringing order out of confusion, loveliness out of chaos. (From “Spiritus Sanctus“)
10. When thou art absent all sorrows are here, when thou art present all blessings are mine. (From “Victory“)

Be blessed, dear reader. And a most Happy Thanksgiving to you.

10 Days in World History I’m Thankful for (and Why)

1. The day writing was invented: how can I narrow it down to one reason? 🙂
2. The day the Israelites left Egypt as a free people: because their liberation foreshadowed my own.
3. The day Jesus was born: everything about his life, death, and return to life would change the world.
4. The day Robert Morrison finished his Chinese translation of the Bible: when he first came to China, he observed that he didn’t expect to have any spiritual impact on the Chinese but he certainly expected that God would…I wonder if he knew how right his prediction would be?
   
5. The day Harriet Tubman made her first “run” leading others north via the Underground Railroad: for her selfless actions and her bravery, for all the people she saved and helped restore dignity to.
6. The day(s) that each of the major wars in modern history ended: because each of them may have been fought for a purpose, but as Solomon observed (thank God), “There is a time for war and a time for peace.”
7. The day Mother Teresa arrived in India: who could have known what a quiet but piercing light of goodness that small woman would bring into our world?
8. The day my parents got married: just an ordinary summer day in Kansas led to 47 years and counting…not bad for a ceremony springing from a $100 budget.
9. September 12, 2001: because the sun rose.
10. November 21, 2018: each day is a gift and another chance to say, “Thanks.”

In keeping with yesterday’s theme about emotions and the historical/theological roots of this season, I’d like to celebrate some great traits our communities – and our whole world – need more of. (Feel free to comment below about these or others that you are thankful to observe in the lives of those around you.)

Twelve Virtues I’m Always Grateful to See Lived Out

• Consideration
• Wisdom
• Humility
• Courage
• Justice
• Mercy
• Patience
• Generosity
• Trustworthiness 
• Honesty
• Self-Control
• Purity

In some of the posts in this series, I’ve included my own reasons for why I’m thankful to/for someone or something. In today’s post, I have at least one reason for every word I will list. But I am choosing not to include those reasons so that you as the reader can ponder what possible reasons we may have.

12 Emotions I’m Thankful We Can Experience and Express

• Confusion
• Anger
• Sorrow
• Delight
• Hope
• Enlightenment
• Admiration
• Compassion
• Disappointment
• Sympathy
• Contentment
• Curiosity 

What about you? Which emotions are you most thankful for?

Politicians – from the small-time to the big-time – have garnered various levels of support, opposition, respect, and hatred throughout American history. Sometimes they have been most famous (or infamous) for their policies and positions; other times, their reputation has been built on their personal life and choices.

You may or may not personally know of or appreciate all the people I will list today. But, politics aside (!), please indulge me while I share the reasons why I’m thankful for them…and feel free to add comments about politicians/leaders you are thankful for.

Ten People Connected to America’s Political Past or Present I’d Like to Thank – and Why (in no particular order)

1. Governor William Bradford: not just because he’s said to be one of my ancestors, but also because he led his community through years of survival in a challenging environment while never giving up on his faith.
2. First Lady Laura Bush: thank you for your advocacy of literacy programs and your quiet strength and dignity as a wife and mother.
3. President Abraham Lincoln: for his bravery, vision for freedom and equality, and how he never lost sight of what he believed in.
4. President George W. Bush: thank you for leading our country through another hard time of loss, fear, and conflict, and for doing so with strength and confidence.
5. The “Founding Fathers” as a group: because they cooperated to achieve a common goal – the formation of a place where we could thrive if we would try.
6. Dr. Condoleezza Rice: thank you for demonstrating how power does not have to corrupt, how age does not have to define ability, and how a woman can be intelligent, beautiful, modest, graceful, witty, wise, and successful all at the same time.
7. Congressman Don Bacon: thank you for many years of military service to our country, and for remaining a genuinely loving person in the midst of our current political landscape.
8. Vice President Mike Pence: thank you for living a personal life of integrity and for quietly holding on to and living out your beliefs through your professional actions.
9. President Ronald Reagan: for his deep personal faith and his longing to stick to his plans simply because he believed they were best for the country he loved.
10. Dr. Ben Carson: thank you for being a tremendous example of overcoming adversity in respectable ways and using your talents and knowledge to heal, to bless, and to speak truth to a divided society.

“Feeling gratitude and not expressing it is like wrapping a present and not giving it.” —William Arthur Ward

Twelve People I Will Always be Grateful to – and Wish I Had One More Moment with Today So I Could Say “Thank You” Again

• Aunt Ethel
• Rachel Bowland
• Billie Jean Anderson
• Lanthon and Virginia Camblin
• Raymond and Bernice Powell
• Franklin Hardy
• Brother “Andy”
• Tracy Tyner-Padilla
• Claude White
• Glen Waddle

Who would you say “thank you” to if you had just one more chance to do so? Feel free to comment below.

It takes a lot of courage to step out and start ones own business. But the people who are willing to do so – and the people who are willing to frequent those businesses – are the people who help to make local communities richer, better places to live.  Today, I would like to give a shout out to just some of the small businesses from Omaha and surrounding towns that have brought good to our area.

12 Local Small Businesses I’m Thankful for (in no particular order!)

1. Hardy Coffee Co. – multiple locations throughout Omaha
2. Body Haven Massage – near 114th and West Center
3. The Bookworm – near 90th and West Center
4. Natural Health Center PC – near 80th and Dodge
5. The E-creamery – near 50th and Underwood
6. Blue Oceans Float – near 72nd and Pacific
7. Stella’s Burgers – on Galvin Road in Bellevue
8. That Pottery Place – near 78th and Dodge
9. Spence Counseling Center – near 120th and Q
10. Hunan Palace – on Gold Coast Road in Papillion
11. No Name Nutrition – near 72nd and Blondo
12. Divine Truth Christian Store – near 84th and Harrison in LaVista

Feel free to comment and give a shout out to a small business of your choice – from Omaha or any other community!

AS OUR SEASON OF GRATITUDE CONTINUES, the writer in me would like to share…

Ten Words I’m Thankful For (and Why)

1. Epic – there’s something particularly special about a story that’s not just a collection of words but is more like a secret journey of ones own
2. Unity – catching glimpses makes me long for more
3. Melodious – beautiful sounds should be noticed and reveled in
4. Discombobulating – so fun to say, so fitting to describe some otherwise-indescribable situations
5. Faithfulness – to remain true and be believed without a doubt…what a precious gift the trust of another is
6. Embrace – simply seeing or hearing the word makes my heart feel “at home”
7. Scarf – wonderfully warm as a noun; humorously descriptive as a verb
8. Kindred – such spirits seem to be few and far between, so they are all the more delightful when we encounter them
9. Giggle – try to say the word and NOT smile 🙂
10. End – all good things must come to one, and when they do, we have a chance to remember them with joy

Some folks may frown upon the premise for today’s post. But I won’t let their thoughts bother me. I’m too busy being thankful! 🙂

Twelve Things I’m so Thankful that God Decided to Include When He Created the World

1. Times of resting
2. Waterfalls and the streams that lead to them
3. The color spectrum
4. Eyelids with their fringe of lashes
5. Horses
6. Trees of every species – but especially sugar maples
7. Dimples…and the smiles that reveal them
8. Cacao beans
9. The exactly-synced and perfectly-maintained rotation of the earth
10. Bamboo
11. Every variation of light
12. Dust

Any other things you’d like to add to my list?